Species of golden mole thought extinct found in Northern Cape by UP team

Scientists rediscover a rare breed of sightless burrowing mammal, De Winton’s golden mole, not seen for 87 years.

The mole, with sharp hearing and sensitivity to vibrations, navigates burrows using these senses, and “swims” through loose sand found in deserts and near beaches. The mole’s iridescent fur coat, secreting oil for easier movement through sand, gives it a “golden” appearance.

The University of Pretoria team, including Samantha Mynhardt, Esther Matthew, Jean Pierre le Roux, Ian Little, Paulette Bloomer and Cobus Theron, rediscovered the species while studying the DNA sequences of local mole species on the west coast.

You can read their research report here.

There are 21 known species, almost exclusively found in the Cape, mostly the Northern Cape, and particularly around Port Nolloth, where their habitat, like that of several marine species, is threatened by the partially government-owned diamond mines in the area.

Traditional methods for finding them involve monitoring soil ridges for signs of activity, requiring patience and stillness due to the moles’ sensitive hearing. However, new environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques offer a non-invasive approach.

The mole’s largely inaccessible burrows and its ability to detect vibrations above ground make it challenging to find without advanced techniques. Border collies trained to sniff out golden moles aided researchers in finding trails left behind.

The rediscovery opens new opportunities for conservation efforts, particularly through eDNA technology, benefiting other imperiled species.

Mynhardt and her team collect soil samples from mole tunnels, extracting and analyzing eDNA in the lab. Each golden mole species has a unique DNA sequence, and Samantha targets three genes to identify the species present. the DNA matches which led to the discovery will guide the Endangered Wildlife Trust team’s searches on South Africa’s west coast.

Loss of biodiversity is a global concern, with declines in wildlife populations prompting monitoring efforts by various organizations. Genetic tools, particularly environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, have gained importance in biodiversity research. eDNA, originating from organisms in water, soil, or sediments, offers non-invasive and efficient species detection. It has revolutionized conservation by being cost-effective and successful in identifying rare or elusive species.

Golden moles are a highly threatened group, and face challenges in study and conservation due to their elusive nature. With 10 out of 21 species listed as threatened, effective conservation relies on understanding their taxonomy, distribution, and abundance. Current methods, such as character-based phylogenies, provide insights, but uncertainties persist.

The four tissue samples used in our study were obtained from Lambert’s Bay, Port Nolloth, Papkuilsfontein and Garies. Last seen on Port Nolloth beach in South Africa, the mole is critically endangered due to diamond mining in its habitat.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust and the University of Pretoria hope the rediscovery will lead to the protection of Port Nolloth beach. Rediscovery is part of a campaign by Global Wildlife Conservation (now Re:Wild) to search for lost species, with over 2000 species on the list.