Fukomys darlingi (Thomas, 1895)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6584692 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6584552 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038F4B5A-FFA1-FFD6-A889-F7ACB8C5CF69 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Fukomys darlingi |
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17. View Plate 22: Bathyergidae
Mashona Mole-rat
French: Bathyergue de Darling / German: Mashona-Graumull / Spanish: Rata topo de Mashona
Other common names: Darling's Mole-rat
Taxonomy. Georychus darling Thomas, 1895 ,
“Salisbury [= Harare], 5000 feet [1524 m],” Zimbabwe .
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. N & E Zimbabwe and C Mozambique. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 125-165 mm (males) and 135-150 (females); tail 8-13 mm (males) and 10 mm (females); weight 60-80 g (males) and 54-92 g (females). The Mashona Mole-rat is medium-sized, with white head patch and brown to black dorsal pelage. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 54, FN = 80.
Habitat. Mesic cultivated areas with high and predictable annual rainfall (¢.700 mm).
Food and Feeding. The Mashona Mole-rat is herbivorous and eats geophytes and tubers.
Breeding. Breeding of the Mashona Mole-rat is aseasonal. Gestation is 56-61 days; litter size averages 1-7 young (range. 1-3), with three litters per year. Colonies have a single breeding pair, with remainder of colony non-reproductive; reproductive female suppresses breeding of other females.
Activity patterns. The Mashona Mole-rats can distinguish between light and dark and has a circadian rhythm.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Mashona Mole-rats are social and live in colonies of 5-9 individuals; sexual ratio is skewed toward males.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Aguilar (1993), Bennett (2013a), Bennett & Faulkes (2000), Bennett, Jarvis & Cotterill (1994), Gabathuler et al. (1996), Greeff & Bennett (2000), Maree, Faulkes & Cotterill (2008), Monadjem et al. (2015), Vasicek et al. (2005), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
