Bathyergidae is the family of blesmols, also called African mole rats, burrowing rodents found strictly in sub Saharan Africa and currently comprising twenty one accepted species across five genera. They have mole like cylindrical bodies with short limbs, reduced eyes and ear pinnae, short tails, loose skin, velvety fur and powerful digging incisors, and are mostly herbivorous burrowers eating roots, tubers and bulbs. Most species live solitarily, but some, including the Damaraland mole rat, are eusocial with a single breeding pair.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Wikipedia: BlesmolArticle text (sections)tier 2Quote, Article text (sections)
Modern blesmols are found strictly in sub-Saharan Africa
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ750383, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Blesmol
WikipediaIntroductionQuote, Introduction
The blesmols, also known as mole-rats or African mole-rats, are burrowing rodents of the family Bathyergidae.
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Bathyergidae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 20
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Bathyergidae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Bathyergidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 41.03 ... "early_interval": "Bartonian"
Wikidata: Bathyergidae
Wikidata Q750383, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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