Name
Talpidae
desman
Framing
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Talpidae
Habitat
Terrestrial, in the hypogean environment, in underground galleries in forests and other ecosystems. Desmans occupy freshwater habitats and their shores.
Feeding
Carnivore
Distribution
Europe, Asia and North America. In the Iberian Peninsula they are widely distributed, although they are absent in some areas.
Conservation status
One species present in the Iberian Peninsula, the Iberian desman, is listed as Vulnerable (VU) globally (IUCN, 2017). In Spain, it is included in the List of Species under Special Protection Regime (Royal Decree 139/2011) and is listed as endangered (populations of the Central System) or vulnerable (the rest of the populations).
Additional information
They lack an external auditory pinna (except in some Asian species). Moles with shovel-shaped digging forelegs, very small eyes, pointed snout and short velvety fur. Moles with flattened snout-shaped muzzle and with more developed hind feet than forelegs and with an interdigital membrane.
Additional information
Links
http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/mamiferos/talocc.html
http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/mamiferos/taleur.html
http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/mamiferos/galpyr.html
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41483/2953593
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41481/22320754
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8826/114145177
https://www.faunaiberica.org/topo-iberico
Bibliography
- Román, J. (2007). Talpa europaea Linnaeus, 1758. En Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos terrestres de España (pp. 86-88). Palomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (eds). Dirección General de Biodiversidad – SECEM-SECEMU. Accesible en: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/ieet_mami_talpa_europaea_tcm30-99884.pdf
- Román, J. (2007). Talpa occidentalis Cabrera, 1907. En Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos terrestres de España (pp. 89-91). Palomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (eds). Dirección General de Biodiversidad – SECEM-SECEMU. Accesible en: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/ieet_mami_talpa_occidentalis_tcm30-99885.pdf
- Nores, C., Queiroz, A. I., & Gisbert, J. (2007). Galemys pyrenaicus (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811). En Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos terrestres de España (pp. 92-95). Palomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (eds). Dirección General de Biodiversidad – SECEM-SECEMU. Accesible en: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/ieet_mami_galemys_pyrenaicus_tcm30-99806.pdf
- Wilson, D. E., & Mittermeier, R. A. (Eds) (2018). Handbook of the Mammals of the World 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions. Disponible en biblioteca UGR.