A Cryptic Subterranean Mammal Species, the Lesser Blind Mole Rat (Nannospalax leucodon syrmiensis)-Retreated but Not Extinct.

ABSTRACT: Blind mole rats (genus Nannospalax) attract a great deal of attention because of their cancer resistance and longevity. Due to the high rate of chromosome rearrangements, 74 Nannospalax chromosomal forms have been discovered. The convergence of their external morphology complicates their taxonomy, and many cryptic species remain unrecognized. Thus, the European N. leucodon supersp. is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with "Data Deficient" status. It is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity to clarify its taxonomy, to recognize each cryptic species, and assign to them the correct conservation status. Of the more than 20 chromosomal forms described within N. leucodon, five cryptic species occur in Serbia. The most threatened among them-N

SUBMITTER: Bugarski-Stanojevic V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10931004 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature