Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Gary Bronner
Reviewers: Robert Asher Andrew Taylor

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

A widespread species that does not appear to be in decline. Although habitat alteration/degradation is ongoing in some parts of this species range, it has adapted well to mildly transformed habitats ranging from vineyards and pasturelands to city parks and gardens; habitat alteration is not, therefore, considered to be a major threat and it is therefore listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

This species is endemic to South Africa. Ranges from the Cape Peninsula (Western Cape) south-eastwards across Cape Flats to Bredasdorp, Swellendam, possibly as far as Knysna; and northwards along the Atlantic coast to Port Nolloth in Northern Cape. Occurs inland to Ceres, Worcester, Sutherland and Stellenbosch in the south, and Calvinia, Garies and Kamieskroon in the north, but does not penetrate the arid Karoo. One specimen (type of C. damarensis) recorded from Damaraland in Namibia is probably a misidentified specimen from Little Namaqualand (Meester et al. 1986).

Population trend

Trend

Common in most habitats, depending on soil friability and invertebrate prey resources; less common on rocky mountain slopes, but nevertheless have still colonized even some mountain plateaux. Inferred densities of up to four per hectare in prime habitat.

Threats

Natural habitats of this species have undoubtedly been dramatically altered by urbanization, coastal tourism developments, mining for alluvial diamonds and agriculture during the past 350 years, but this is not considered a threat as it coexists (indeed even thrives) in close association with humans. Persecuted by gardeners and greenkeepers, regularly caught by domestic dogs and cats, but such mortalities are negligible given the abundance of this widespread species, and its cryptic nature.

Conservation

Protected in many national and provincial conservation areas. No species-specific conservation actions deemed necessary. Research to clarify status of described forms/subspecies is needed, as some of these may be distinct taxa given that their range largely corresponds with the Western Cape fold mountains which may serve as barriers to gene flow between some populations.

References 

[@book{1087,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Meester, J.A.J., Rautenbach, I.L., Dippenaar, N.J. and Baker, C.M.},
 publisher = {Transvaal Museum },
 title = {Classification of Southern African Mammals. Monograph number 5.},
 year = {1986}
}
,@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}
}
,@book{1087,
 address = {Washington, DC, USA},
 author = {Meester, J.},
 publisher = {Smithsonian Institution Press},
 title = {Family Chrysochloridae},
 year = {1974}
}
,@electronic{1087,
 address = {http://www.afrotheria.net/index.php},
 author = {Afrotheria Specialist Group},
 title = {Specialist Group website},
 year = {2014}
}
,@electronic{1087,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{40600,
 author = {Broom, R.},
 journal = {Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society},
 pages = {283–311},
 title = {A contribution to the knowledge of the Cape golden moles},
 volume = {18},
 year = {1907}
}
,@article{40600,
 author = {Bennett, N.C. and Spinks, A.C.},
 journal = {Journal of Zoology (London)},
 pages = {957–971},
 title = {Thermoregulation and metabolism in the Cape golden mole (Insectivora: <i>Chrysochloris asiatica</i>)},
 volume = {76},
 year = {1995}
}
,@inbook{40600,
 address = {London},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Chrysochloris asiatica</i>},
 editor = {Bronner, G.N. },
 pages = {242--244},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing},
 title = {Mammals of Africa, Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria },
 year = {2013}
}
,]
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