Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

Central and eastern Africa including parts of Cameroon, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

• Biogeographic Regions
• ethiopian
  • native

Habitat

Stuhlmann's golden moles usually live at high elevations in mountainous areas. They burrow just below the ground sometimes near vegetation. They are sometimes found in gardens.

• Terrestrial Biomes
• mountains

Physical Description

Head and body = 90-140 mm with no tail. The fur is dense, short, and soft, usually light underneath and brown or dark green above. If looked at from different angles the fur seems iridescent and almost purple. The fur is also water-repellent and very insulating. The skin on the head is especially thick and forms a tough pad that covers the nostrils. This limbs are very short yet powerful. There are two very long, thick claws on the forlimbs, the hind feet are webbed and have smaller, sharp claws. The ears are very small and the eyes are covered with hairy skin. The upper teeth of the golden moles are longer than the lower teeth. Females have four mammae. Members of this genus have a temporal bullae.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• bilateral symmetry

Reproduction

The breeding season seems to be during the rainy season, April-July. This could be due to the fact that the moles are out of their burrows more at night (see behavior) and the chances of meeting others of their species are higher. After breeding, moles construct a circular nest layered with grass in their tunnel systems. The female gives birth here and suckles the 1-3 young for two-three months. After this time the young are fully grown and are evicted form the burrow.

• Key Reproductive Features
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual

Behavior

Stuhlmann's golden mole tends to be solitary and is active any time of the day. they spend most of their time burrowing close to the surface in search of food. On nights after rain storms they often come out of their burrows and root around for worms or other invertebrates at the surface, a behavior that might be due to flooded tunnels. Golden moles are very sensitive to vibrations and use this sense to detect predators and other possible approaching danger. They can be territorial, especially when food sources are limited.

• Key Behaviors
• motile

Communication and Perception

• Perception Channels
• tactile
• chemical

Food Habits

Like the other golden moles, Stuhlmann's golden mole eats mainly soil invertebrates including worms, grubs, and beetles.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

It is possible that this species removes insect pests, aerates the soil, and fertilizes (w/fecal matter) gardens.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

It is also possible that this species causes damage to plants root systems in gardens, but direct crop damage is unlikely because of their insectivorous diet.

Conservation Status

This species appears to be rather common throughout its range.

• IUCN Red List

  Least Concern
  More information

Other Comments

The skins of this species are used as charms or talismans by the Bakiga tribe in Kigezi.

Contributors

Eric J. Ellis (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Macdonald, Dr. David [Editor]. 1984. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Equinox (Oxford) ltd. Pgs 764-765.

Nowak, Ronald M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Pgs 137-141.

Parker, Sybil P. 1990. Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals, Vol 1. Mcgraw Hill Inc. Pg 475.