Lesser Blind Mole Rat – Spalax leucodon

Spalax leucodonNordmann, 1840

Accepted name, Mammal Species of the World 2005

Morphologically characterized by Topachevskii (1969) and now viewed as another superspecies based on chromosomal studies (Giagia et al., 1982; Ivanitskaya et al., 1997; Peshev, 1983; Savič, 1982b; Savič and Nevo, 1990; Savič and Soldatovič, 1977, 1979). More than 20 chromosomal forms have been uncovered (2n ranging from 38 to 62, FN between 74 and 96 (summarized in Mitchell-Jones et al., 1999, and Nevo et al., 2001). Savič (1982b) delineated six clusters that he interpreted as chromosomal species: leucodon group (with hungaricus, montanosyrmiensis, monticola, and transsylvanicus), makedonicus group, strumiciensis group (with ovchepolensis and serbicus), epiroticus (with hellenicus), turcicus group (with thracius), and montanoserbicus group (with hercegovinensis and syrmiensis). Morphological and biometric analyses by Kivanç (see refer... [truncated]

• Wilson, D and Reeder, D. (eds.) 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed. -- 2142 pp. Johns Hopkins University Press.