Cryptomys hottentotus
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Bathyergidae
Cryptomys
Cryptomys hottentotus

description: 5.
Common Mole-rat
Cryptomys hottentotus
French: Bathyergue hottentot / German: Hottentotten-Graumull / Spanish: Rata topo comun
Other common names: African Mole-rat, Common Blesmol, Hottentot Mole-rat, Southern African Mole-rat
Taxonomy. Bathyergus hottentotus Lesson, 1826,
near Paarl (east of Cape Town), Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Taxonomy of C. hottentotus has changed based on recent molecular phylogenetic and chromosomal studies. As a result, the formerly considered subspecies amatus and whyte: are now recognized as distinct species of Fukomys. Four subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C.h.hottentotusLesson,1826—W&SSouthAfrica(Northern,Western,EasternCape,andFreeStateprovinces).
C.h.natalensisRoberts,1913—SMozambiqueandESouthAfrica(MpumalangaandKwaZulu-Natal).
C.h.nimrodideWinton,1897—SZimbabwe,extremeEBotswana,andextremeNSouthAfrica(NLimpopoProvince).
C. h. pretoriae Roberts, 1913 — N South Africa (S Limpopo, E North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 105-185 mm (males) and 100-164 (females), tail 8-27 mm (males) and 10-25 mm (females); weight 112-145 g (males, averaging 134 g) and 98-153 g (females, averaging 119 g). The Common Mole-rat is medium-sized. Dorsal pelage is dark gray to brown; head sometimes has white patch. Limbs and tail are short; feet and tail are fringed with vibrissae. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 54, FN = 106 for the nominate subspecies and FN = 104 for natalensus.
Habitat. Mesic and semiarid regions with annual rainfall of 200-1000 mm. It occurs in a wide range of substrates from friable sandy loams to exfoliated schists and sandy, stony soils. It is apparently, unable to utilize heavy red clay soils or the hard soils associated with mopane (Colophospermum mopane, Fabaceae) woodland.
Food and Feeding. The Common Mole-rat is herbivorous, and 92% of diet of the nominate subspecies hottentotus consists of geophytes. It stores food and apparently forages randomly; it does not drink standing water.
Breeding. Breeding of the Common Mole-rat occurs in October—January for the nominate subspecies and April-December for pretoriae. Ovulation is induced by copulation; gestation is 59-66 days; and litter size averages three young (range 1-6). Colonies contain single breeding females, a subset of breeding males, and non-reproductive individuals. Breeding system is not totally monogamous because genetic evidence indicates that offspring are not always from a single breeding pair.
Activity patterns. The Common Mole-rat follows the circadian rhythm.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Dispersal of Common Mole-rats occurs in the wet season, with rate of dispersal constrained by aridity and access to food. Burrow networks are 150-510 m long, and home range averages 0-16 ha. Colonies contain members of a family group and immigrants. Colony sizes are 2-14 individuals for the nominate subspecies, up to ten individuals for pretoriae, and 8-15 individuals for nimrodi. Nevertheless, the Common Mole-rat is less social than species of Fukomys.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Bennett (1989, 2013b), Bennett & Faulkes (2000), Bennett, Cotterill & Spinks (1996), Bishop, Jarvis et al. (2004), Bishop, O'Ryan & Jarvis (2007), Davies & Jarvis (1986), Hart et al. (2004), Jackson & Bennett (2005), Malherbe et al. (2003), Maree & Faulkes (2008a), Meester et al. (1986), Monadjem et al. (2015), Moolman et al. (1998), Nevo et al. (1986), Oosthuizen et al. (2008), van Rensburg et al. (2002), Robb et al. (2012), Spinks (1998), Spinks, Bennett & Jarvis (2000), Spinks, Branch et al. (1999), Spinks, Jarvis & Bennett (2000), Spinks, Van der Horst & Bennett (1997), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Bathyergidae, pp. 352-370 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 368, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6584692