Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Afrosoricida
- Family
- Chrysochloridae
- Genus
- Chrysospalax
Habitat
This species inhabits moist, sandy soils in grasslands, forests, and shrublands of South Africa, particularly in areas with good vegetation cover for burrowing. It prefers regions with high earthworm populations and avoids arid or rocky terrains.
Diet
The rough-haired golden mole primarily eats earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates found underground. It forages nocturnally by tunneling through soil, using its sensitive snout to detect prey vibrations.
Behavior
Rough-haired golden moles are solitary and primarily nocturnal, spending most of their time burrowing underground to avoid predators. They are territorial, using seismic vibrations to communicate and mark their tunnels, and they rarely surface except to find food or mates.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend, though threats include habitat loss from agriculture and urbanization.