Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Afrosoricida
- Family
- Chrysochloridae
- Genus
- Calcochloris
Habitat
This species inhabits tropical rainforests and moist savannas in Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It prefers areas with soft, loamy soils for burrowing and is often found in undergrowth or near streams.
Diet
The Congo golden mole primarily eats earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates found in the soil. It forages underground at night, using its sensitive snout to detect and capture prey through tunnels it digs.
Behavior
Congo golden moles are solitary and nocturnal, spending most of their time burrowing underground to avoid predators and find food. They exhibit territorial behavior, marking their tunnels with scent and communicating through vibrations. They are fossorial, rarely surfacing except to move to new areas.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Data Deficient due to limited data, but habitat loss from deforestation poses a potential threat. Population trends are unknown, but the species may be stable in protected areas.