Rough Haired Golden Mole (Chrysospalax villosus)

The Rough-haired Golden Mole is not pictured due to image unavailability. Grant's Golden Mole pictured.

The Rough-haired Golden Mole is a small mammal.  It was listed in 2003 as a vulnerable species. Their decreasing numbers are due to habitat clearance or destruction and preyed upon by domesticated cats and dogs. This particular species is endemic to South Africa.

The rough-haired golden moles range between about 10 and 14 cms in length. They weigh on average between 108 and 142 grams. They have shiny brown hair, with a tint of red on the sides.

Like most golden moles, they need to keep on the move or their body temperature will raise rapidly. Whilst sleeping, their body twitches which keeps their body temperature up.

They are a burrowing animal, and spend the majority of their time underground.

Golden moles have an amazingly efficient kidney. Some species do not need to drink water at all.

In 1999, Nowak noted the remarkable ability this particular species has of direction. If threatened, the rough-haired golden mole would move quickly to the exact location of its burrow entrance.

Further Information on the Rough-haired Golden Mole:

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Bibliography:
Skinner & Smithers. 1990 The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region

African Zoology Vol 36, No 1. April 2001

Nowar, R. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press.