Golden mole - Kinmogura (English spelling)

A general term for animals belonging to the family Chrysochloridae of the order Insectivora of the class Mammalia. Members of this family, Chrysochloridae, are found in Africa and have a mole-like appearance and ecology, but are completely different from the moles of Eurasia and North America. There are five genera, including the genera Vinton's Mole and Ophiuchus, and the body length ranges from 8 to 23 centimetres. All species have degenerate eyes that are buried under the skin and lack ears and tails. The front legs are short and have four digits, with the third digit usually being the largest due to its huge claw, the second digit being somewhat smaller, and the first and fourth digits being significantly smaller than those. The fur has a metallic sheen that can be green, purple, yellow or red. The skull has a wide braincase and a narrow snout. The dentition is

That's 36 to 40 bottles.

They live underground like moles, digging tunnels with their huge front claws and eating earthworms and insects. The Winton's Golden Mole, Cryptochloris wintoni , which lives in arid areas, is said to feed mainly on legless lizards. They are most active in the rainy season, but are said to hibernate in the dry season. They build nests underground and give birth to 2-6 young.

[Ei Abe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食虫目キンモグラ科に属する動物の総称。この科Chrysochloridaeの仲間はアフリカに産し、モグラ型の外形と生態をもつ動物であるが、系統的にはユーラシア、北アメリカのモグラ類とはまったく異なる。ビントンキンモグラ属、オオキンモグラ属など5属があり、体長は8～23センチメートルで、いずれの種も目は退化して皮下に埋まり、耳介と尾を欠く。前足は短く、4指があり、通常第3指は巨大なつめをもつため最大で、第2指はやや小さく、第1、第4指はそれらより著しく小さい。体毛には緑色、紫色、黄色、赤色などの金属光沢がある。頭骨は脳頭蓋(とうがい)の幅が広く、吻(ふん)が狭い。歯式は

で36～40本。

　生活はモグラに似た地下性で、巨大な前足のつめでトンネルを掘り、ミミズや昆虫を食べる。また、乾燥地にすむビントンキンモグラCryptochloris wintoniはアシナシトカゲを主食にするという。雨期にもっとも活動的であるが、乾期には夏眠をするといわれる。地中に巣をつくり、2～6子を産む。

［阿部　永］

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