Spalax
Genus of rodents
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spalax is a genus of rodent in the family Spalacidae, subfamily Spalacinae (blind mole-rats). It is one of two extant genera in the subfamily Spalacinae, alongside Nannospalax.[2]
| Spalax | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:Філія_ЛПЗ_НАНУ_"Стрільцівський_степ"_Spalax_microphthalmus.jpg) | |
| Greater blind mole-rat (S. microphthalmus) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Spalacidae |
| Subfamily: | Spalacinae |
| Genus: | Spalax Güldenstädt, 1770 |
| Type species | |
| Spalax microphthalmus[1] Güldenstädt, 1770 | |
| Species | |
|
Spalax antiquus | |
Species in this genus are found in Eastern Europe and Western & Central Asia.[3] They are completely blind and have a subterranean lifestyle.[4]
Taxonomy
Prior to 2013, Spalax was widely considered the only member of Spalacinae, with all blind mole-rat species being grouped within it. However, phylogenetic and morphological evidence supported some of the species within it forming a distinct lineage that diverged from the others during the Late Miocene, when a marine barrier formed between Anatolia and the Balkans. These species were reclassified into the genus Nannospalax, making Spalax one of two extant spalacine genera.[2]
Species
- Mehely's blind mole-rat, S. antiquus[5]
- Sandy blind mole-rat, S. arenarius
- Giant blind mole-rat, S. giganteus
- Bukovina blind mole-rat, S. graecus
- Oltenia blind mole-rat, S. istricus (possibly extinct)[5]
- Greater blind mole-rat, S. microphthalmus
- Kazakhstan blind mole-rat, S. uralensis
- Podolsk blind mole-rat, S. zemni