Eospalax cansus
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Spalacidae
Eospalax
Eospalax cansus

description: 7.
Gansu Zokor
Eospalax cansus
French: Zokor du Gansu / German: Gansu-Blindmull / Spanish: Zocor de Gansu
Taxonomy. Myotalpa cansus Lyon, 1907,
“ Taocheo [= Chaozhou], Kan-su, northwestern China.”
Although O. Thomas and others had treated them as a separate species, G. M. Allen in 1940 included cansus as a subspecies of Jfontaniern and treated rufescens as a synonym of cansus. Many references to E. fontaniern in the literature pertain to the better-studied FE. cansus. In recent years, various studies have supported treating E. cansus as a distinct species from E. fontanierii, E. rufescens, and E. baileyi based on mtDNA, cranial morphology, molar shape, hair morphology, and features of internal organs. Molecular data are inconclusive about affinities of E. cansus within Eospalax, but it does not appear to be closely related to E. fontanierii. Three distinct mitochondrial clades of E. cansus have been identified that correspond to central Shaanxi; Ningxia and south-eastern Gansu; and eastern Qinghai and south-western Gansu. These appear to roughly correspond to groupings recovered based on morphometric analysis of Lu Qingbin and colleagues in 2013. Additional research is required to determine if E. cansus warrants division into subspecies or even multiple species. Monotypic.
Distribution. Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Hubei (C & E China).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 155-230 mm, tail 33-66 mm; weight 150-430 g. Male Gansu Zokors are larger than females, and populations at higher elevations tend to be larger. The Gansu Zokoris brownish, although slightly darker than Fontanier’s Zokor (E. fontanierii). Hairs are dark gray at bases. Unlike Fontanier’s Zokor, the Gansu Zokor usually lacks white blaze; when present, it is small. Tail and feet are sparsely haired. Immature individuals are gray. Median occipital crest is well-developed, and M? has two re-entrant folds.
Habitat. Grassland, shrub-steppe, and forest at elevations of 1500-2500 m on the Loess Plateau. Burrows of Gansu Zokors have been excavated in areas with high concentrations of grasses, sagebrush (Artemisia, Asteraceae), and thyme (Thymus, Lamiaceae).
Food and Feeding. Gansu Zokors eat underground plant matter.
Breeding. Ganu Zokors breed primarily in April-July. As breeding approaches, males consume more food and increase digging activity, and their testes descend. When a captive male was placed in shared spaces with a female, the two initially acted aggressively, began to act more amicably, and finally mated. Courtship lasts ¢.25 days. Mating bouts appear to be most common in morning, last 10-30 minutes, and can continue for 8-10 days. Litter sizes are 1-5 young, usually 2-3 young.
Activity patterns. When walking, claws of Gansu Zokors are folded undersoles offeet.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Gansu Zokor lives almost entirely underground. Communication occurs seismically via call and head drumming; they squeal when frightened. Individuals clearly know status of neighboring individuals. If an individual is removed,its territory will be quickly occupied. This behavior appears to allow individuals to form overlapping burrow systems, allowing mates to find each other. Males have larger tunnel systems than females and are more aggressive. Predators include the Mountain Weasel (Mustela altaica) and the Steppe Polecat (M. eversmanii). Remains of the Gansu Zokor have also been found in owl pellets.
Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List. Classified as least concern on the 2016 China Red List, where it is treated as a distinct species. The Gansu Zokor has a wide distribution and large population and is found in protected areas. Overgrazing is a common problem acrossits distribution, and research is needed to understand complex interactions among overgrazing, erosion, habitat restoration, and zokor activities. The Gansu Zokor is considered a pest because it is thought to exacerbate erosion and hinder forest restoration projects by feeding on seedlings. It is also an agricultural pest of several crops including soybeans.
Bibliography. Allen (1940), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Fan Naichang & Shi Yinzhu (1982), He Ya et al. (2012), Hongo et al. (1993), Jiang Zhigang et al. (2016), Lawrence (1991), Li Baoguo & Chen Fuguan (1989), Li Jingang, He Jianping & Wang Tingzheng (2001), Li Jingang, Wang Tingzheng & He Jianping (2001), Lu Qingbin et al. (2013), Musser & Carleton (2005), Norris et al. (2004), Smith & Johnston (2008a), Su Junhu et al. (2014), Thomas (1911a, 1911b), Wang Tingzheng & Li Xiaochen (1993), Wu Panwen et al. (2007), Yang Chuanhua etal. (2012), Zhang Tongzuo et al. (2013), Zhou Caiquan & Zhou Kaiya (2008).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Spalacidae, pp. 108-142 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 133, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6609100