Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Afrosoricida
- Family
- Chrysochloridae
- Genus
- Amblysomus
Habitat
This species inhabits grasslands and forests in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It prefers areas with soft, sandy soils that allow for easy burrowing and is often found in regions with moderate rainfall and vegetation cover.
Diet
Marley's golden mole primarily eats earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates found underground. It forages in its tunnels using its acute sense of touch and hearing, typically feeding at night to avoid predators.
Behavior
Marley's golden mole is solitary and fossorial, spending most of its time digging tunnels underground. It is primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage or expand its burrow system, and exhibits territorial behavior by marking its tunnels with scent. Little is known about social interactions, but they communicate through vibrations in the soil.
Conservation Status
Marley's golden mole is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss from agriculture and urbanization. Population trends are decreasing, with major threats including soil degradation and fragmentation of their grassland habitats.