Golden Mole Rediscovered In South Africa After 86 Years

Researchers in South Africa claim to have rediscovered a species of mole with an iridescent golden coat and has the ability to almost "swim" through sand dunes after it had been considered to be extinct for more than 80 years.

(Photo : Getty Images/Dan Kitwood)

Rediscovered Golden Mole

A team of experts from the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the University of Pretoria discovered De Winton's golden mole, a small, blind burrower with "super-hearing powers" that feeds insects, on a beach at Port Nolloth on South Africa's west coast.

Scientists believe that it has been lost to science since 1936.

In 2021, the crew used a sniffing dog named Jessie to locate tunnel remnants and came across a golden mole.

The experts took a soil sample every time Jessie stopped, and the material was subsequently examined for environmental DNA (eDNA).

As the moles move through the dunes, they discharge mucus, urine, feces, and skin cells, all of which can be detected by DNA. The crew searched up to 18 km (11.2 miles) of dunes in a single day using this method.

After gathering a total of one hundred sand samples, they finally came upon two De Winton golden moles.

Cobus Theron, senior conservation manager at EWT and member of the search team, believes that the species has not gone extinct despite the doubts of the people that the De Winton's golden mole is still out there.

"Now, not only have we solved the riddle, but we have tapped into this eDNA frontier where there is a huge amount of opportunity - not only for moles but for other lost or imperilled species," he added.

21 Species Of Golden Mole

The De Winton's golden mole (Cryptochloris wintoni), which inhabits underground burrows, was thought to be extinct. The greasy secretions that lubricate its fur and allow it to "swim" through sand dunes are the source of its "golden" moniker.

Because it doesn't build traditional tunnels, it is more difficult to detect.

Additionally, it is blind and only uses its extremely sensitive hearing. If it detects vibrations from movement above ground, it will bolt.

There are 21 identified species of golden mile, the majority of which are found only in South Africa.

Three other moles, including the very endangered Van Zyl's golden mole, were discovered to have been evidenced by the researchers.

De Winton's golden moles have been discovered in four additional populations after the research was conducted in 2021, and scientists think Port Nolloth is home to a robust population of these moles. However, diamond mining poses a threat to the area since it is not protected.

The conservation group Re:wild has put De Winton's golden mole on a "most wanted lost species" list.

Some of the species on the list that have been rediscovered include the Somali sengi elephant shrew, which was sighted in Djibouti in 2019 for the first time since 1968, and the salamander, which was located in Guatemala in 2017, 42 years after it was last observed.