Chrysochloris stuhlmanni

Order: Afrosoricida > Family: Chrysochloridae > Genus: Chrysochloris > Species: Chrysochloris stuhlmanni

Common Name: Stuhlmann's Golden Mole [English]

Type Description

Sitzb. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berlin, p.123

Type Locality

Uganda, Ruwenzori region, 'Ukondjo und Kinyawanga'.

Measurements

Head and body: 105-120 mm
Tail length: 4-5 mm
Weight: 26-53 g

Description

There is no visible tail or eyes, the two of the claws on the front foot are well developed, and there is a green, blue or purple metallic sheen on the fur. This combination of external characters makes this animal unmistakable.

Comparisons

No other animal has the combination of characters listed in the description above.

Distribution

Chrysochloris stuhlmanni is restricted to the East African montane highlands (Kingdon, 1984, 1997). In Tanzania, C. stuhlmanni occurs in the Uluguru and Udzungwa mountains and the southern highlands in Iringa and Mbeya Regions.

Key References

1. Allen, G. M. and Loveridge, A. 1927. Mammals from the Uluguru and Usambara mountains, Tanganyika Territory. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 38: 413-441.
2. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Insectivores and Bats). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2A:22-27.
3. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 139-140.
4. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:179-182.
5. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika
Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society,
20(6):274-392.