| Podolsk blind mole-rat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skull of thetype specimen | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Spalacidae |
| Genus: | Spalax |
| Species: | S. zemni |
| Binomial name | |
| Spalax zemni Erxleben, 1777 | |
| Synonyms | |
Spalax polonicus[2] | |
ThePodolsk blind mole-rat orPodolian mole-rat (Spalax zemni) is a species ofrodent in the familySpalacidae. It isendemic to western and centralUkraine.[3]
It has a wide but severely fragmented range throughout Ukraine, ranging from the near the border withPoland south to near the border withMoldova, and east to central Ukraine. It primarily inhabits undevelopedsteppe habitat, but also side roads, forest belts, agricultural fields, and even former military firing ranges.[1]
This species is thought to be threatened byhabitat loss due to cultivation and development, and is classified asendangered on theIUCN Red List. It has a highly fragmented population, and the relatively wide range that this species is thought to have throughout Ukraine may be an overestimate for this reason. Data suggests that it has been declining since historical times due to shrinking of the steppe habitat, and it has been considered a rare species since the end of the 19th century.[1]
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