Scientific Name
Chrysochloris visagiei
Common Names
Classification
Close Relatives
The Visagie’s Golden Mole is a small native mammal. It was listed in 2003 as a critically endangered species. This particular species is endemic to South Africa. Their decreasing numbers are due to habitat clearance or destruction and preyed upon by domesticated cats and dogs.
They are a burrowing animal, and spend the majority of their time underground. They range in size between 8 cm to 20 cms.
Golden moles have an amazingly efficient kidney. Some species do not need to drink water at all.
There has only been one reported specimen of Visagie’s Golden Mole. It is currently debated that this in fact may not be a real species of golden mole, but perhaps an aberrant form of a related golden mole such as Chrysochloris asiatica.