Spalax

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.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Species in this genus are found in Eastern Europe and Western & Central Asia.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> They are completely blind and have a subterranean lifestyle.<ref name="Lamarck2">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name=":12"/>

Species

• Mehely's blind mole-rat, S. antiquus<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• 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)<ref name="ReferenceA" />
• Greater blind mole-rat, S. microphthalmus
• Kazakhstan blind mole-rat, S. uralensis
• Podolsk blind mole-rat, S. zemni

Further reading

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• Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea." pp. 894–1531 in Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
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• Nowak, R. M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World, II. London: Johns Hopkins University Press Template:ISBN
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• Topachevskii, V. A. (1976) Fauna of the USSR. Volume III: Mammals. Issue 3: Mole rats, Spalacidae. New Delhi: Amerind.
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