Mechow's mole-rat is found in Central Africa. Its range extends from central Angola and northern Zambia to southern and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and southwestern Tanzania. Reports of it occurring in Malawi probably refer to a different species. Its burrows are found in clay, stony and sandy soils. Its typical habitat is scrubby savannah or dense woodland in areas with rainfall in excess of 1,100 millimetres (43 in). It also occurs in areas under cultivation, parks, gardens and pine plantations.[1]
Ecology
Mechow's mole-rat is a colonial species and lives in groups of between two and twenty or more individuals.[1] Mole-rats are adapted for life underground and have cylindrical bodies, small eyes and large incisors which they use for digging. The tunnelling activities are mostly for foraging purposes as they search for the roots and tubers that form their diet.[2]
Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of Mechow's mole-rat as being of "least concern". It has a wide range and is a common species that has adapted to live in cultivated areas. Although it is caught and eaten as food, especially in Zambia, this seems to have little impact on its total population which seems to be stable.[1]
Woods, C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2005. pp 1538–1600 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.
