Spalax graecus Nehring 1898
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
Spalax
Spalax graecus

description: 20.
Bukovina Blind Mole-rat
Spalax graecus
French: Spalax de Bucovine / German: Bukowina-Blindmaus / Spanish: Rata topo ciega de Bucovina
Other common names: Balkan Blind Mole-rat, Balkan Mole-rat
Taxonomy. Spalax graecus Nehring, 1898,
vicinity of Athens, Greece. Corrected by V. A. Topachevskii in 1969 to the vicinity of Chernovtsy, Bukovina Region, Ukraine.
Spalax graecus is a member of the S. graecus species group that is characterized by elongated nasal bones and higher position of sella externa of the mandible relative to sella interna and is supported by mitochondrial data. It was traditionally united with S. istricus and S. antiquus into a single species (S. graecus). In an analysis of mtDNA, A. Németh and colleagues in 2013 demonstrated that S. graecus and S. antiqguus exhibited considerable genetic divergence that was comparable to species-level differences among other Spalax. They also demonstrated clear morphological differences among S. graecus, S. antiquus, and S. istricus that lead them to conclude that these represent distinct species. Monotypic.
Distribution. SW Ukraine and NE Romania.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 217-280 mm, no visible external tail; weight 415-700 g. Bukovina Blind Mole-rat has soft and moderately long fur. Most of dorsal surface is butt, and venter and head are grayish. According to Németh and colleagues in 2013, the Bukovina Blind Mole-rat differs from other members of the S. graecus species group in having nasals that extend posteriorly beyond premaxilla and a flat bottom of incisura corono-alveolaris. Diploid numberis 2n = 62.
Habitat. Strands of perennial grasses, steppes, and agricultural fields in the hilly Bukovina region of Romania and Ukraine. The Bukovina Blind Mole-rat can occur in roadsides, pastures, beet and potato fields, gardens, and forest edge but not deep forest. Itis currently known from 13 localities, bordered on the east by the Prut River and on the west by the Carpathian Mountains. Ecological niche modeling suggests that suitable habitat may be found at elevations of 39-848 m.
Food and Feeding. The Bukovina Blind Mole-rat feeds on a variety of plants including dropwort (Filipendula hexapetala, Rosaceae), yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae), plantain (Plantago media, Plantaginaceae), couch grass (Elytrigia repens, Poaceae), comfrey (Symphytum officinale, Boraginaceae), and chicory (Cichorium intybus, Asteraceae). Winter food stores weigh 0.4-12 kg.
Breeding. Female Bukovina Blind Mole-rats breed in their second year. Breeding activity begins in January, peaks in February, and can continue into March. Females will give birth to 2—4 young in March-April. Young weigh 18-20 g and are weaned after c.3 weeks. They disperse aboveground in late April through May.
Activity patterns. No information.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Bukovina Blind Mole-rats are solitary. Burrows are constructed in relatively dry soil and usually reach maximum depths of 1 m (up to 3-5 m). Feeding tunnels occur at depths of 20-25 cm in spring and summer and 30-35 cm in winter. One or two nest chambers and multiple toilet and storage chambers are present. In the past, densities had been recorded at 1-10 ind/ ha in agricultural areas but up to 23 ind/ha under more natural conditions. Current densities in agricultural areas are closer to 0-2-2 ind/ha. Predators include foxes, mustelids, and, when dispersing, raptors.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The assessment includes the Oltenia Blind Mole-rat (S. istricus) and Mehely’s Blind Mole-rat (S. antiquus). It has a small range of occupancy and has not been recorded in Romania since the 1960s or in Ukraine over the last 20-40 years. Additional conservation assessment of the Bukovina Blind Mole-rat separate from the Oltenia Blind Mole-rat and Mehely’s Blind Mole-rat is needed.
Bibliography. Chisamera et al. (2014), Hadid et al. (2012), Krystufek (1999a), Musser & Carleton (2005), Méhely (1909), Németh et al. (2013), Puzachenko (2016b), Topachevskii (1969), Zagorodnyuk & Coroiu (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 138, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6609100