Chrysochloridae - Golden Moles

There are about 21 species in this family. They are found in southern Africa. Golden moles are 3-7 inches long and have thick fur, small ears, short tails, and skin-covered eyes. While they are called golden moles, not all members of this family are gold. They can vary in color from black to yellow.

They have a thick-skinned nose that they use to burrow into the ground and short, powerful front legs with strong front claws with an extra long third claw that they use for digging into the ground. Golden moles have five toes on their webbed hind feet that help them push away dirt as they tunnel underground. Golden moles live underground. They eat earthworns, millipedes, termites and other insects.

Most species are solitary and territorial. They spend most of their time in tunnels underground. Some species come to the surface. The giant golden mole forages in forest leaf litter for food and the rough-haired golden mole will often come to the surface of grasslands after rain to look for food.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

Species Around the World
Fynbos Golden Mole - Amblysomus corriae Hottentot Golden Mole - Amblysomus hottentotus Marley's Golden Mole - Amblysomus marleyi Robust Golden Mole - Amblysomus robustus Highveld Golden Mole - Amblysomus septentrionalis Congo Golden Mole - Calcochloris leucorhinus Yellow Golden Mole - Calcochloris obtusirostris Somali Golden Mole - Calcochloris tytonis Arend's Golden Mole - Carpitalpa arendsi Duthie's Golden Mole - Chlorotalpa duthieae Sclater's Golden Mole - Chlorotalpa sclateri		Cape Golden Mole - Chrysochloris asiatica Stuhlmann's Golden Mole - Chrysochloris stuhlmanni Visagie's Golden Mole - Chrysochloris visagiei Giant Golden Mole - Chrysospalax trevelyani Rough-haired Golden Mole - Chrysospalax villosus De Winton's Golden Mole - Cryptochloris wintoni Van Zyl's Golden Mole -Cryptochloris zyli Grant's Golden Mole -Eremitalpa granti Gunning's Golden Mole -Neamblysomus gunningi Juliana's Golden Mole -Neamblysomus julianae

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Golden Moles
Golden moles are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: IUCN Afrotheria Specialist Group Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Cape Golden Mole - Chrysochloris asiatica
The Cape golden mole is found in South Africa
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Giant Golden Mole - Chrysospalax trevelyani
The giant golden mole is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Giant Golden Mole - Chrysospalax trevelyani
The giant golden mole is around 7.8 inches in length.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Grant's Golden Mole -Eremitalpa granti
Grant's golden mole is found in Namibia and South Africa.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Gunning's Golden Mole -Neamblysomus gunningi
Gunning's golden mole is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Juliana's Golden Mole -Neamblysomus julianae
Juliana's golden mole is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hottentot Golden Mole - Amblysomus hottentotus
The Hottentot golden mole is found in South Africa, Swaziland, and southern Mozambique.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Robust Golden Mole - Amblysomus robustus
The robust golden mole is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Rough-haired Golden Mole - Chrysospalax villosus
The rough-haired golden mole is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sclater's Golden Mole - Chlorotalpa sclateri
Sclater's golden mole is found in Lesotho and South Africa.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Stuhlmann's Golden Mole - Chrysochloris stuhlmanni
Stuhlmann's golden mole is found in Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School