Insular mole

Mogera insularis is a mammal in the genus of East Asian moles within the Moles ( Talpidae ). It is distributed over large parts of the South China as well as on the islands of Hainan and Taiwan.

Features

Mogera insularis is a small species of moles with a head-body length of 8.7 to 13.7 inches and a very short tail length from 0.3 to 1.4 centimeters. Here, the three subspecies differ in their size, the nominate form on Taiwan 's largest and the mainland form Mogera insularis latouchei is the smallest. The coat is both on the back like on the abdomen slate- gray to black, with the exception of a few white hairs on the feet and tip of the tail.

Mogera insularis differs from the also occurring in southern China Euroscaptor longirostris mainly by the shorter and broader snout. In addition, the claws of the front legs at an enlarged Mogera insularis narrower and the number of teeth is low, since the species of the genus Mogera have no lower canines.

Dissemination

The distribution area of Mogera insularis includes large parts of the south of the People's Republic of China and the islands of Hainan and Taiwan. The nature in the provinces of Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Anhui, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Jiangxi was detected. According to recent findings, the species occurs also in the north of Vietnam.

In Taiwan and Hainan Mogera insularis is the only species of moles.

Way of life

Over the life of Mogera insularis are very few data. The species is found both in the mountains in southern China as well as in the high mountain regions. Like all moles she lives underground, digging tunnels in the ground, where it feeds on insects and worms.

System

Mogera insularis is classified as a separate species within the East Asian moles ( genus Mogera ). Historically, it kind of Euroscaptor micrura was assigned, which today is one of the South East Asian moles.

Within the species, the two subspecies insularis Mogera hainana be distinguished on Hainan and Mogera insularis latouchei to Taiwan in addition to the nominate subspecies insularis insularis Mogera on Taiwan. The distribution ranges of these subspecies are separated today, the islands were, however during the last glacial part of the mainland. The status of the subspecies is unclear mainly due to the significant differences in size of Mogera insularis insularis insularis and Mogera latouchei and it is possible that there are separate species.

Threats and conservation

The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to the large area of ​​distribution and the assumed high inventory levels as not at risk ( " least concern "). Threats to the stocks are not known.