New species and subspecies of Golden Mole (Chrysochloridae: Amblysomus) from Mpumalanga, South Africa

被引:5
|
作者
Bronner, GN [1 ]
机构
[1] Potchefstroom Univ Christian Higher Educ, Sch Environm Sci & Dev, ZA-2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa
关键词
D O I
10.1515/mamm.2000.64.1.41
中图分类号
Q95 [动物学];
学科分类号
071002 ;
摘要
A new species of Amblysomus, related to A. hottentotus (A. Smith, 1829) and A. septentrionalis Roberts, 1913, and a new subspecies of A. hottentotus with affinities to A.h. pondoliae Thomas & Schwann, 1905 and A.h. iris Thomas & Schwann, 1905, are described from the eastern Mpumalanga highveld, South Africa. The new species, found only in high altitude grasslands near Dullstroom and Belfast, is unique in having a diploid chromosome number (2n) of 36, and a fundamental number of 68. It has a more robust build than most other Amblysomus species, and in colour and size closely resembles A. septentrionalis (2n = 34) and A.h. longiceps (Broom, 1907) from montane grasslands further south in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal (2n = 30). While no single measurement unequivocally distinguishes between these taxa, they can be diagnosed with at least 90% efficiency using a multiple discriminant functions technique based on 16 cranial measurements. The new subspecies, recorded thus far from only the Graskop and White River districts of the northern Drakensberg escarpment, has a mid-dorsal band of reddish-black fur which distinguishes it from all other forms on the highveld, as well as from A.h. pondoliae and A.h. iris, coastal subspecies which it resembles both karyotypically and craniometrically.
引用
收藏
页码:41 / 54
页数:14
相关论文
共 50 条