The Bukovina blind mole-rat or (erroneously) the Balkan blind mole-rat (Spalax graecus) is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae found in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
| Bukovina blind mole-rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Spalacidae |
| Genus: | Spalax |
| Species: | S. graecus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Spalax graecus Nehring, 1898
| |
Taxonomy
editThe specific epithet graecus, as well as the reference to the Balkans in its former scientific name, both derive from the type specimen, which was initially thought to have been collected in the vicinity of Athens, Greece. However, in 1969 this was found to be erroneous, and the type locality was corrected to the vicinity of Chernovtsy, Ukraine.[2]
Formerly, this species was thought to comprise three disjunct subspecies: the type subspecies graecus, inhabiting northern Romania, Moldova, and southwestern Ukraine, Mehely's blind mole-rat (subspecies antiquus), thought to be endemic to central Romania, and the possibly extinct Oltenia blind mole-rat (subspecies istricus), thought to be endemic to southern Romania. However, a 2013 morphological and phylogenetic analysis found antiquus and istricus to represent distinct species from graecus. The American Society of Mammalogists and IUCN Red List followed the results of this study.[1][2][3] This leaves S. graecus with a much smaller distribution than it was previously thought to have.[1]
Description
editThese mole-rats have a long, cylindrical body with no neck and relatively weak limbs. The Bukovina mole rats are blind and do not possess any external ears.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is found in a small area of northeastern Romania, southwestern Ukraine, and northwestern Moldova. Part of its range roughly coincides with the historical region of Bukovina. It inhabits steppe, pastures, cultivated fields, and orchards.[1]
Threats
editThis species is thought to be threatened by intensive agriculture, which has been implicated in the decline of the sympatric lesser blind mole-rat (Nannospalax leucodon) in the same region. In Transylvania, subsistence agriculture is still practiced, and thus the population appears stable there, but the addition of Romania to the European Union in the 2007 enlargement of the European Union may spur further intensive agriculture within its habitat.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Dando, T. (2020). "Spalax graecus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T97249856A97249986. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T97249856A97249986.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Németh, Attila; Homonnay, Zalán G.; Krízsik, Virág; Csorba, Máté; Pavlíček, Tomáš; Hegyeli, Zsolt; Hadid, Yarin; Sugár, Szilárd; Farkas, János; Csorba, Gábor (1 December 2013). "Old views and new insights: taxonomic revision of the Bukovina blind mole rat, Spalax graecus (Rodentia: Spalacinae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 169 (4): 903–914. doi:10.1111/zoj.12081. ISSN 0024-4082.
- ^ Chişamera, G., Bužan, E. V., Sahlean, T., Murariu, D., Zupan, S., & Kryštufek, B. (2013). Bukovina blind mole rat Spalax graecus revisited: Phylogenetics, morphology, taxonomy, Habitat Associations and conservation. Mammal Review, 44(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12001
- Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.