Nannospalax ehrenbergi

(Nehring, 1898)

Levantine Blind Mole-rat

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Supramyomorpha
Infraorder : Myomorphi
Superfamily : Muroidea
Family : Spalacidae
Subfamily : Spalacinae
Genus : Nannospalax
Subgenus : Nannospalax

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Nehring, A. 1898-08-13. Mehrere neue Spalax-Arten. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1897:163-183.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791338

Original name as described

Spalax Ehrenbergi

Other common names

Ehrenberg's Mole-rat · Palestine Mole-rat · Middle East Blind Mole-rat

Type material

ZMB 15202, ZMB 15203, ZMB 15204, ZMB 15205, ZMB 15206, ZMB 15207, ZMB 15208, ZMB 15209, ZMB 15210, ZMB 15211, ZMB 15212

Type kind

syntypes

Type locality

Jaffa (= Tel Aviv), Israel.

Biogeographic realm

Palearctic

Country distribution

Libya · Egypt · Israel · Palestine · Jordan · Lebanon · Syria

Taxonomy notes

moved to Nannospalax from Spalax; previously included N. ceyhanus and N. intermedius and populations now attributed to the recently described N. colaki, N. garzanensis, and N. karyominor; currently includes carmeli, galili, golani, judaei, and aegyptiacus, all of which were recently suggested to be distinct species; however, genetic data between carmeli, galili, golani, and judaei was lower than within most other related Nannospalax species, and no genetic data currently exists for aegyptiacus or nomentypical ehrenbergi; further research is needed to clarify the taxonomy of N. ehrenbergi and it's relatives in the subgenus Nannospalax

Taxonomy notes citation

Kryštufek, B., Ivanitskaya, E.Yu., Arslan, A., Arslan, E. and Bužan, E.V. 2012. Evolutionary history of mole rats (genus Nannospalax) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 105(2):446-455. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01795.x · Arslan, A., Kryštufek, B., Matur, F. and Zima, J. 2016. Review of chromosome races in blind mole rats (Spalax and Nannospalax). Folia Zoologica 65(4):249-301. doi:10.25225/fozo.v65.i4.a1.2016 · Kankılıç, T., Tatyüz, İ., Yürümez, G., Kankılıç, T., Köse, B., Coşkun, Y. and Civelek, İ. 2025. Taxonomic revision of the Nannospalax ehrenbergi species complex (Rodentia: Spalacidae) in Anatolian Peninsula, with description of three new species. Zoologischer Anzeiger 321:16-37. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2025.12.006

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1003793

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Spalax aegyptiacus

(Nehring, 1898)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

aegyptiacus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

180

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791340

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

  1. Nehring (1898:180, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791340) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68557)
  2. Trouessart (1904:467, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423348) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  3. Klaptocz (1909:258, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10227046) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68565)
  4. Flower (1932:424) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/14201)
  5. Allen (1939:363, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2782260) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5450)
  6. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax Ehrenbergi

(Nehring, 1898)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

ehrenbergi

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMB 15202, ZMB 15203, ZMB 15204, ZMB 15205, ZMB 15206, ZMB 15207, ZMB 15208, ZMB 15209, ZMB 15210, ZMB 15211, ZMB 15212

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

178

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791338

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

  1. Nehring (1898:178, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791338) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68557)
  2. Trouessart (1904:467, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423348) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  3. Méhelÿ (1909:38, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9405212) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69131)
  4. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:556, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722857) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)
  5. Ranck (1968:194, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7853708) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34293)
  6. Heller (1970:24) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68326)
  7. Osborn & Helmy (1980:246, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2747475) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5405)
  8. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  9. Kryštufek & Vohralík (2009:268) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34861)
  10. Happold (2013:145) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27625)

Spalax kirgisorum

(Nehring, 1898)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

kirgisorum

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

176

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791336

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

  1. Nehring (1898:176, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8791336) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68557)
  2. Trouessart (1904:467, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423348) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  3. Satunin (1905:31) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69041)
  4. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax Fritschi

(Nehring, 1902)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

fritschi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7931235

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

  1. Trouessart (1904:466, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423347) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  2. Méhelÿ (1909:68, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9405242) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69131)
  3. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax berytensis

(G. S. Miller, 1903)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

berytensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:13009 (= USNM:MAMM:A36859)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/35086df86-4640-4c77-846c-1d3833e53bb1

Authority page

162

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2345431

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Trouessart (1904:467, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423348) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax Ehrenbergi var. aegyptiacus

(Méhelÿ, 1909)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

aegyptiacus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

54

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9405228

Authority publication

Budapest

Name usages

  1. Méhelÿ (1909:54, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9405228) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69131)
  2. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:556, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722857) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)
  3. Ranck (1968:194, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7853708) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34293)
  4. Osborn & Helmy (1980:246, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2747475) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5405)

Spalax Ehrenbergi var. kirgisorum

(Méhelÿ, 1909)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

kirgisorum

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

59

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9405233

Authority publication

Budapest

Name usages

Méhelÿ (1909:59, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9405233) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69131)

Spalax ehrenbergi ehrenbergi

(Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

ehrenbergi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

556

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722857

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:556, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722857) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)

Nannospalax ehrenbergi

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1991

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

ehrenbergi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

165

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1991:165) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63070)
  2. Musser & Carleton (1993:753) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63347)
  3. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:222) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  4. Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:141) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)
  5. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #400000292) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #400000292) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1003793) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  8. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/14326/22276839) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Spalax carmeli

(Nevo, E. Yu. Ivanitskaya, & Beiles, 2001)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

carmeli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

23

Authority publication

Leiden

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax galili

(Nevo, E. Yu. Ivanitskaya, & Beiles, 2001)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

galili

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

23

Authority publication

Leiden

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax golani

(Nevo, E. Yu. Ivanitskaya, & Beiles, 2001)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

golani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

23

Authority publication

Leiden

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Spalax judaei

(Nevo, E. Yu. Ivanitskaya, & Beiles, 2001)

Family

Spalacidae

Root name

judaei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

23

Authority publication

Leiden

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

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