List of bathyergids

Bathyergidae is a family of fossorial mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Phiomorpha parvorder. Members of this family are called bathyergids, blesmols, or mole-rats. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in shrublands, grasslands, and savannas, though some species can be found in deserts or forests. They range in size from Caroline's mole-rat, at 8 cm (3 in) plus a 1 cm (0.4 in) tail, to the Cape dune mole-rat, at 35 cm (14 in) plus a 4 cm (2 in) tail. Bathyergids are omnivores, and primarily eat roots, bulbs, and tubers, as well as earthworms and insects. Almost no bathyergids have population estimates, but the Hanang mole-rat is categorized as endangered with a population as low as 100.

The twenty-one extant species of Bathyergidae are divided into five genera, which range in size from one to thirteen species. Several extinct prehistoric bathyergid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed.[1]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically endangered (0 species)
 EN Endangered (1 species)
 VU Vulnerable (1 species)
 NT Near threatened (0 species)
 LC Least concern (14 species)
Other categories
 DD Data deficient (5 species)
 NE Not evaluated (0 species)

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the bathyergid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

Bathyergidae is a family consisting of twenty-one extant species in five genera. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

Family Bathyergidae

  • Genus Bathyergus (dune mole-rats): two species
  • Genus Cryptomys (common mole-rats): four species
  • Genus Fukomys (tropical mole-rats): thirteen species
  • Genus Georychus (Cape mole-rat): one species
  • Genus Heliophobius (silvery mole-rat): one species
Bathyergidae[2]

Bathyergids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[3]

Genus Bathyergus – Illiger, 1811 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Cape dune mole-rat

 B. suillus
(Schreber, 1782) 		South Africa Size: 27–35 cm (11–14 in) long, plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Desert[5]

Diet: Bulbs and fleshy roots[6] 		 LC 


Unknown [5]

Namaqua dune mole-rat

 B. janetta
Thomas & Schwann, 1904 		South Africa and Namibia Size: 17–23 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Shrubland[7]

Diet: Bulbs and fleshy roots[6] 		 LC 


Unknown [7]

Genus Cryptomys – Gray, 1864 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Common mole-rat

 C. hottentotus
(Lesson, 1825) 		South Africa Size: Unknown[4]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[8]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [8]

Highveld mole-rat C. pretoriae
(Roberts, 1913) 		South Africa Size: About 14 cm (6 in) long, plus about 2 cm (1 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[10]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [10]

Mahali mole-rat C. mahali
(Roberts, 1913) 		South Africa Size: 13–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[11]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 DD 


Unknown [11]

Natal mole-rat C. natalensis
(Roberts, 1913) 		South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini Size: 15–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[12]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [12]

Genus Fukomys – Kock, Ingram, Frabotta, Honeycutt, & Burda, 2006 – thirteen species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Ansell's mole-rat

 F. anselli
(Burda, Zima, Scharff, Macholán, & Kawalika, 1999) 		Zambia Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Savanna[14]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [14]

Bocage's mole-rat F. bocagei
(De Winton, 1897) 		Southwestern Africa Size: 14–17 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[15]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [15]

Caroline's mole-rat F. vandewoestijneae
Van Daele, Blondé, Stjernstedt, & Adriaens, 2013 		South-central Africa Size: 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Forest and grassland[16]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 DD 


Unknown [16]

Damaraland mole-rat

 F. damarensis
(Ogilby, 1838) 		Southern Africa Size: 15–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[17]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [17]

Ghana mole-rat F. zechi
Matschie, 1900 		Ghana Size: 12–23 cm (5–9 in) long, plus about 2 cm (1 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[18]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [18]

Hanang mole-rat

 F. hanangensis
Faulkes, Mgode, Archer, & Bennett, 2017 		Tanzania Size: About 11 cm (4 in) long, plus about 1 cm (0 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Grassland[19]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 EN 


100–200 [19]

Kafue mole-rat F. kafuensis
(Burda, Zima, Scharff, Macholán, & Kawalika, 1999) 		Zambia Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0–1 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Savanna[20]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 VU 


Unknown [20]

Livingstone's mole-rat F. livingstoni
Faulkes, Mgode, Archer, & Bennett, 2017 		Tanzania Size: About 12 cm (5 in) long, plus about 1 cm (0.4 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Unknown[21]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 DD 


Unknown [21]

Mashona mole-rat

 F. darlingi
(Thomas, 1895) 		Zimbabwe and Mozambique Size: 12–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[22]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [22]

Mechow's mole-rat

 F. mechowi
(Peters, 1881) 		South-central Africa Size: 13–26 cm (5–10 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[23]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [23]

Nigerian mole-rat F. foxi
(Thomas, 1911) 		Nigeria and Cameroon Size: 16–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Grassland[24]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 DD 


Unknown [24]

Ochre mole-rat F. ochraceocinereus
(Heuglin, 1864) 		Central Africa Size: 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[25]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 LC 


Unknown [25]

Somali striped mole-rat F. ilariae
Gippoliti & Amori, 2011 		Somalia Size: About 12 cm (5 in) long, plus tail[13]

Habitat: Shrubland[26]

Diet: Roots, bulbs, tubers, and aloe leaves, as well as earthworms and insects[9] 		 DD 


Unknown [26]

Genus Georychus – Illiger, 1811 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Cape mole-rat

 G. capensis
(Pallas, 1778) 		South Africa and Lesotho Size: 8–23 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Shrubland and forest[27]

Diet: Tubers, roots, and bulbs[28] 		 LC 


Unknown [27]

Genus Heliophobius – Peters, 1846 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Silvery mole-rat

 H. argenteocinereus
Peters, 1846 		Southeastern Africa Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) tail[4]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and caves[29]

Diet: Tubers and bulbs[30] 		 LC 


Unknown [29]

References

  1. ^ "Family Bathyergidae Waterhouse 1841 (mole rat)". Paleobiology Database. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Lewis, K. N.; Soifer, I.; Melamud, E.; Roy, M.; McIsaac, R. S.; Hibbs, M.; Buffenstein, R. (2016). "Unraveling the message: insights into comparative genomics of the naked mole-rat". Mammalian Genome. 27: 259–278. doi:10.1007/s00335-016-9648-5. PMC 4935753.
  3. ^ Wilson; Reeder, pp. 1538–1543
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 351
  5. ^ a b Maree, S.; Jarvis, J.; Bennett, N. C.; Visser, J. (2017). "Bathyergus suillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T2620A110017759. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T2620A110017759.en.
  6. ^ a b Nowak, p. 1641
  7. ^ a b Maree, S. (2016). "Bathyergus janetta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T2619A22185370. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T2619A22185370.en.
  8. ^ a b Bennett, N. C.; Child, M. F. (2025) [errata version of 2019 assessment]. "Cryptomys hottentotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T111932681A283906669. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T111932681A283906669.en.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Nowak, p. 1638
  10. ^ a b Bennett, N. C. (2019). "Cryptomys pretoriae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T111935780A111935800. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T111935780A111935800.en.
  11. ^ a b Bennett, N. C. (2019). "Cryptomys mahali". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T111933779A111933826. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T111933779A111933826.en.
  12. ^ a b Kennerley, R.; Child, M. F. (2019). "Cryptomys natalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T111935513A111935542. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T111935513A111935542.en.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, pp. 352–353
  14. ^ a b Dando, T.; Van Daele, P. (2020). "Fukomys anselli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T44858A22184572. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T44858A22184572.en.
  15. ^ a b Faulkes, C.; Maree, S.; Griffin, M. (2016). "Fukomys bocagei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5752A22184407. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5752A22184407.en.
  16. ^ a b Van Daele, P.; Dando, T.; Kennerley, R. (2019). "Fukomys vandewoestijneae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T48294834A48294838. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T48294834A48294838.en.
  17. ^ a b Child, M. F.; Maree, S. (2016). "Fukomys damarensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5753A22185003. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5753A22185003.en.
  18. ^ a b Maree, S.; Faulkes, C.; Schlitter, D. (2016). "Fukomys zechi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5751A22184502. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5751A22184502.en.
  19. ^ a b Faulkes, C. G.; Mgode, G. F.; Gereau, R. E.; Hart, D. W.; Bennett, N. C. (2020). "Fukomys hanangensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T167462770A167462772. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T167462770A167462772.en.
  20. ^ a b Dando, T. (2021). "Fukomys kafuensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T44861A22184898. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T44861A22184898.en.
  21. ^ a b Relton, C. (2021). "Fukomys livingstoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T167463928A167464037. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T167463928A167464037.en.
  22. ^ a b Maree, S.; Faulkes, C.; Cotterill, F. (2016). "Fukomys darlingi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T44860A22184755. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T44860A22184755.en.
  23. ^ a b Maree, S.; Faulkes, C. (2016). "Fukomys mechowi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5756A22185092. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5756A22185092.en.
  24. ^ a b Gerrie, R.; Kennerley, R. (2019). "Fukomys foxi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T5754A22184832. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T5754A22184832.en.
  25. ^ a b Maree, S.; Faulkes, C. (2016). "Fukomys ochraceocinereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T5757A22184661. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5757A22184661.en.
  26. ^ a b Amori, G. (2019). "Fukomys ilariae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T48295791A48295794. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T48295791A48295794.en.
  27. ^ a b Maree, S.; Visser, J.; Bennett, N. C.; Jarvis, J. (2017). "Georychus capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T9077A110019425. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T9077A110019425.en.
  28. ^ Nowak, p. 1637
  29. ^ a b Maree, S.; Faulkes, C. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Heliophobius argenteocinereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T9828A115094392. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T9828A22184301.en.
  30. ^ Nowak, p. 1639

Sources

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