Red List of South African Species

Alternatively, Explore species
| National Red List categories | Partners |
Endangered (EN)
Assessors: Sarita Maree
Contributors: Gary Bronner
Reviewers: Nigel Bennett Andrew Taylor

Rationale (Changed due to New Information)

In 2008 the species was listed as Vulnerable in view of estimated area of occupancy (AOO) (less than 2,000 km²). New information led to  more accurate calculations of AOO (160 km2) and confirmed that the population is severely fragmented.  It is known from only three isolated and range-restricted subpopulations in South Africa; two of which occur within protected areas; there are no intermediate distribution records suggesting gene flow between them. Only a small part of the range of the subpopulation occurring in and around Nylsvley Provincial Nature Reserve (Modimolle district, Limpopo Province) falls within this protected area, the rest being in adjoining farmlands where suitable habitat is subject to severe alteration, degradation and fragmentation. Although almost the entire range of the Kruger National Park subpopulation (Mpumalanga Province) is protected in the southwestern section of the park, road infrastructure may form barriers that impede golden mole movements. The Bronberg Ridge subpopulation in eastern Tshwane (Gauteng) is not at all protected within a provincial or national reserve, and persistent quartzite mining, rapid urbanization and expansion of suburbs east of Tshwane are causing severe transformation, degradation and loss of remaining intact natural habitat within its very restricted distributional range on the ridge. Hence, the Bronberg Ridge is treated as a distinct subpopulation and while included here is also assessed separately. For these reasons the species is uplisted to Endangered status.

Distribution

Three geographically separated subpopulations documented: 1) The Bronberg Ridge east of Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng. Confirmed records from the Willows (type locality), Wapadrand, Shere and Tierpoort on the northern side, and Olympus and Zwavelpoort on the southern side of the ridge; 2) Nylsvley flood plain, Modimolle district, Limpopo Province. Recorded from Nylsvley Provincial Nature Reserve and surrounding farms to the south, south-east and southwest of it (Jackson et al. 2007a, Jackson and Robertson 2011); 3) Numbi Gate, Pretoriuskop and Matjulwana districts of the southwestern Kruger National Park, in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga Province. A Species Distribution Model (SDM) compiled for all three populations using ecological niche modelling identified limited potentially suitable habitat for the species and enabled identification of two previously unrecorded localities in the Modimolle area (Jackson and Robertson 2011). This confirms previous suggestions of a wider distribution in the Modimolle area based on skull fragments identified from owl pellets at Witkoppen Cave, ca 25 km east of Nylsvley NR (Bronner 2008). No new populations were found in Gauteng. 

Population trend

Trend

Locally common, with 2-3 individuals/ha in prime habitat. However, dispersion is patchy and clumped within each subpopulation owing to specialized habitat requirements (e.g. soil characteristics, Jackson et al. 2007b). 

Threats

Inferred major threats are habitat loss, modification and fragmentation as a result of anthropogenic activities. In the former Transvaal Province (South Africa), this species was given the highest regional priority score for mammals (Freitag and van Jaarsveld 1997). The type population on Bronberg Ridge (Gauteng) is severely impacted by degradation, fragmentation and loss of its natural soil habitat owing to intensive urbanization and an expanding quartzite mining operation within its highly restricted range (hence this subpopulation is also assessed separately). While the other two subpopulations (Modimolle district and southwestern Kruger National Park) occur within protected areas, there are no intermediate distribution records suggesting gene flow between them. Agricultural practices on farms surrounding the subpopulation from the vicinity of Nylsvley Provincial Nature Reserve are altering and degrading patches of suitable habitats on farms (Jackson et al. 2007a, 2007b), and could be reducing numbers at some locations of the Modimolle subpopulation. Roads infrastructure in Kruger National Park (soil compaction) may create barriers for golden mole movement. The direct and indirect impacts of various land uses on the species and its natural habitat may be poorly understood, but the effects of habitat fragmentation (especially in range-restricted taxa) causing obstructions to animal movement (≈ gene flow), increased inbreeding potential, reduced genetic variability and an increased risk of extinction.

The species’ elusive habits often obscure signs of its presence. Developers committed to follow recommendations of Environmental Management Plans (EMP) and Requirements of Development (RoD) are reliant on golden mole specialists for guidance in respect of minimizing impacts on the species. If genetic clarification reveal that two taxa exist within the current extent of occurrence (see Taxonomic Note), adequate measures to protect the reduced distributional ranges of each taxon would be all the more important.

Inferred minor threats are predation by domestic pets, persecution by gardeners and land owners.

Conservation

Two of the three known subpopulations are protected within the Kruger National Park (south-western Pretoriuskop, Matjulwana and Numbi gate areas) and Nylsvley Provincial Nature Reserve, but the most threatened Bronberg Ridge subpopulation is unprotected (see separate subpopulation assessment).

In the former Transvaal Province (South Africa), this species was given the highest regional conservation priority score for mammals based on regional occupancy, relative taxonomic distinctiveness, endemism and vulnerability (Freitag and van Jaarsveld 1997). It was listed as Vulnerable under the Threatened or Protected Species (ToPS) Regulations of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004 (NEMBA 2004), but will no longer be protected by ToPS as it was suggested that the species is not directly utilized by humans.

No Biodiversity Management Plan exists for the entire species. However, a multifaceted approach will be required to successfully conserve the species for future generations. In the short term, it is imperative that current attempts to integrate the available scientific data on the species with policy and legislation persists. This will require concerted efforts including legal intervention, commenting on biodiversity policy and legislation drafts, increased pressure from non-governmental conservation organizations, residents associations and the general public to ensure that laws, policies and regulations warranting its protection is enforced. Provincial and national regulatory bodies should be informed of the severe threats facing this ancient and biologically unique species.

In the long term, many aspects of its distribution, general biology, ecology, physiology, population trends, taxonomy and population genetics require further investigation to achieve effective conservation management strategies for the future. However, these  should build on foundations already set (Bronner 1995a,b, 2013; Bronner and Jenkins 2005; Maree et al. 2003; Jackson 2007; Jackson et al. 2007a,b, 2008, 2009; Jackson and Robertson 2011). Current research on the systematics status of subpopulations should be concluded and expanded to assess genetic differentiation at a regional and local scale. A thorough risk assessment should be done for each population to determine the effects of multiple land uses on the suitable habitat remaining in its distributional range.

References 

[@inbook{1087,
 address = {Baltimore, MD, USA},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Order Afrosoricida},
 editor = {Bronner, G.N. and Jenkins, P.D.},
 pages = {70--81},
 publisher = {The Johns Hopkins University Press},
 title = {Mammal Species of the World},
 year = {2005}
}
,@phdthesis{1087,
 author = {Bronner, G.N.},
 school = {University of Natal},
 title = {Systematic revision of the golden mole genera <i>Amblysomus</i>, <i>Chlorotalpa</i> and <i>Calcochloris</i> (Insectivora: Chrysochloromorpha; Chrysochloridae)},
 year = {1995}
}
,@electronic{1087,
 address = {http://www.afrotheria.net/index.php},
 author = {Afrotheria Specialist Group},
 title = {Specialist Group website},
 year = {2014}
}
,@article{1087,
 author = {Bronner, G.N. },
 journal = {Journal of Mammalogy},
 pages = {957--971},
 title = {Cytogenetic properties of nine species of golden moles (Insectivora: Chrysochloridae)},
 volume = {76},
 year = {1995}
}
,@inbook{1087,
 address = {London},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Neamblysomus gunningi</i>},
 editor = {Bronner, G.N.},
 pages = {239--240},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing},
 title = {Mammals of Africa, Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria},
 year = {2013}
}
,@electronic{1087,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Bronner, G.N.},
 journal = {Koedoe},
 pages = {1--7},
 title = {New distribution records for four mammal species, with notes on their taxonomy and ecology},
 volume = {33},
 year = {1990}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Pfab, M.},
 journal = {Veld & Flora},
 pages = {56–59},
 title = {The quartzite ridges of Gauteng},
 year = {2002}
}
,@phdthesis{1089,
 author = {Jackson, C.R. },
 school = {University of Pretoria},
 title = {The ecology and conservation of Juliana's golden mole (<i>Neamblysomus julianae</i>) },
 year = {2007}
}
,@techreport{1089,
 author = {Jackson, C.R., Maree, S., Robertson, M.P., Bloomer, P., Bennett, N.C. and Bronner, G.N.},
 title = {A Conservation Assessment of Juliana’s Golden Mole (<i>Neamblysomus julianae</i>) on the Bronberg Ridge, Gauteng, South Africa},
 year = {2007}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Jackson, C.R., Lubbe, N.R., Robertson, M.P., Setsaas, T.H., van der Waals, J. and Bennett, N.C.},
 journal = {Journal of Zoology},
 pages = {13--17},
 title = {Soil properties and the distribution of the endangered Juliana’s golden mole},
 volume = {274},
 year = {2007}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Jackson, C.R., Setsaas, T. H., Robertson, M.P. and Bennett, N.C. },
 journal = {African Zoology},
 pages = {245--255},
 title = {Ecological variables governing habitat quality and the distribution of the endangered Juliana’s golden mole},
 volume = {43},
 year = {2008}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Jackson, C.R., Setsaas T.H., Robertson M.P., Scantlebury M. and Bennett N.C. },
 journal = {Journal of Zoology },
 pages = {299–307},
 title = {Insights into torpor and behavioural thermoregulation of the endangered Juliana's golden mole. },
 volume = {278},
 year = {2009}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Jackson, C.R. and Robertson, M.P.},
 journal = {Journal for Nature Conservation},
 pages = {87--94},
 title = {Predicting the potential distribution of an endangered cryptic subterranean mammal from few occurrence records},
 volume = {19},
 year = {2011}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Maree, S., Bronner, G.N., Jackson, CR. and Bennett, N.C.},
 journal = {IUCN Afrotheria Specialist Group Newsletter},
 pages = {4--6},
 title = {The conservation of golden moles (Afrosoricida; Chrysochloridae) with emphasis on the status of <i>Neamblysomus julianae</i> in South Africa},
 volume = {2},
 year = {2003}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Meester, J.A.J.},
 journal = {Annals of the Transvaal Museum},
 pages = {35--46},
 title = {A new golden mole from the Transvaal (Mammalia: Chrysochloridae)},
 volume = {28},
 year = {1972}
}
,@inbook{1089,
 address = {Cambridge},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Order Afrosoricida},
 editor = {Bronner, G.N. and Bennett, N.C.},
 publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
 title = {The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, 3rd edn},
 year = {2005}
}
,]
Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Lead agencies, Partners and Funders

See the partners page