2023-08-11 13:19:54
Appearance of one of the new species of mole – UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
MADRID, 11 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Scientists have identified two types of moles that are believed to have lived in the mountains of eastern Turkey since about 3 million years ago.
The new moles, called Talpa hakkariensis and Talpa davidiana tatvanensis, belong to a family group of subterranean invertebrate-eating mammals found in Europe and western Asia.
While only one species, Talpa europaea, is found in Great Britain, further east there are several different moles, many of which have very small geographic ranges.
The researchers, using cutting-edge DNA technology, have confirmed that the new forms are biologically distinct from others in the group.
Both inhabit mountainous regions in eastern Turkey and can survive temperatures of up to 50°C in summer and be buried under two meters of snow in winter.
The study, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, was carried out by researchers from Ondokuz Mayis University (Turkey), Indiana University (USA) and the University of Plymouth (UK).
Lead author David Bilton, Professor of Aquatic Biology at Plymouth University, has previously been responsible for identifying almost 80 new species of animals, particularly insects, and said the new discoveries were remarkable for a number of reasons.
“It is very rare to find new species of mammals nowadays“, said it’s a statement. “There are only about 6,500 species of mammals that have been identified worldwide, and for comparison, about 400,000 species of beetles are known, with an estimated 1 to 2 million on Earth.”
“On the surface, the new moles we have identified in this study appear similar to other species, as living underground places serious limitations on the evolution of body size and shape; in reality, there are a limited number of options available to moles. Our study highlights how, in such circumstances, we can underestimate the true nature of biodiversity, even in groups like mammals, where most people would assume we know all the species we share the planet with.”
The discoveries mean that the number of known Eurasian moles has increased from 16 to 18, and each has its own distinct genetic and physical characteristics.
To identify their latest finds, the researchers studied the size and shape of various body structures, using advanced mathematical analyses, which also allowed them to include specimens collected in the 19th century that are still available in museum collections.
Further analysis of the moles’ DNA and detailed comparison with known species then confirmed their distinctiveness.
As a result, Talpa hakkariensis, found in the Hakkari region of southeastern Turkey, was identified as a new species of mole, highly distinctive in terms of morphology and DNA.
Talpa davidiana tatvanensis, found near Bitlis, also in southeastern Turkey, was also identified as morphologically distinct, but classified as a subspecies of Talpa davidiana. First identified in 1884, T. davidiana is listed as data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Professor Bilton added: “We have no doubt that further investigation will reveal additional diversity, and that there are still more new mole species to be discovered in this and adjacent regions. Amid growing calls to preserve global biodiversity, if we seek to protect species, we must know that they exist in the first place. Through this study, we have established something of a hidden pocket of biodiversity, and we know much more about the species that live within it than ever before. That will be critical for conservation experts and society at large as they consider how best to manage this part of the planet.”
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