Zokor

Blindmulle ( Myospalax ), also Asian mole rats or Zokors, are the only genus in the subfamily Myospalacinae. They are rodents and belong to the mice -like.

Their geographical range extends from Central Russia over Siberia to Manchuria. They prefer higher altitude forest and agricultural areas.

Features

Blindmulle live in tunnels and halls, which they dig like moles underground. These burrows are up to two meters below the ground and can reach dimensions of nearly one hundred meters. Blindmulle feed on roots, tubers and grain ears, they drag you down into their burrows where the food can be stored. This way of life makes them crop pests.

The body length is 16-27 cm, added 3-9 cm tail. Blindmulle weigh 150 to 550 grams. In the spring ( March and April), the females give birth to four to six pups.

Blindmulle have gray, gray-brown or reddish- yellow fur that is colored much stronger than at the bottom on the back. Unlike makes believe her name, Blindmulle are not blind, but her eyes are almost completely hidden in the fur.

There are seven species within the genus known.

System

Blindmulle be regarded as a subfamily of Spalacidae. Occasionally you can find them as tribes within the voles settled, but the analyzes of Lawrence they are in 1991, according to a separate taxon at the base of the mouse -like, which had acquired his few similarities to voles in convergent evolution. As a close relative the root rats are discussed.

Subgenus Myospalax

  • Trans-Baikal Blindmull, Myospalax psilurus ( Milne Edwards 1874), south-east. Siberia, eastern Mongolia, Manchuria
  • Manchurian Blindmull, Myospalax epsilanus, Thomas 1912, Manchuria
  • Siberian Blindmull, Myospalax myospalax, ( Laxmann 1773), eastern Kazakhstan, southern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, Manchuria
  • Daurischer Blindmull, Myospalax aspalax, ( Pallas 1776), Mongolia

Subgenus Eospalax

  • Chinese Blindmull, Myospalax fontanierii ( Milne Edwards 1867), North and Central China
  • Smith Blindmull, Myospalax smithii, Thomas 1911, Gansu, Shaanxi
  • Rothschild Blindmull, Myospalax Rothschildi, Thomas 1911, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei
Erik Laxmann Central Federal District Oldfield Thomas
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