Subterranean Rodents: News from Underground

摘要: Across the globe, in all continents but Australia and Antarctica, at least 250 extant rodent species (38 genera, 6 families – according to classification applied) spend most of their lives self-constructed burrows (Table 1.1, Fig. 1.1). Their subterranean ecotope is dark, microclimatically stable, hypoxic hypercapnic, deprived sensory cues available aboveground. The offer shelter from predators climatic extremes, digging energetically costly, yield foraging relatively low, because productivity rather low food resources (roots underground plant storage organs like bulbs tubers) are mostly unpredictably unevenly scattered. These so-called rodents specialized multiple aspects for unique way life which events foraging, mating, breeding take place underground. Animals that inhabit selfmade tunnels, also forage (predominantly) above ground, called fossorial. Needless say, a continuum exists between fossorial rodents, present volume categorical differentiation ignored on purpose. Another mammalian group sharing same ecotope, feeding invertebrates, non-rodent mammals likemarsupial moles, certain armadillos, as well “insectivore” moles (e.g. Talpidae) golden (Chrysochloridae). Although title book emphasizes focus we encouraged authors glance recent findings studies other subterraneanmammals, hope reader will profit this. Most taxa have already been scientifically described ages alpha taxonomy 100–200 years ago (and, e.g. blind mole-rat Spalax mole-vole Ellobius talpinus 1770), many dwellers familiar local people (Spalax