A preliminary report on locomotory activity in wild and captive Chrysospalax trevelyani (Mammalia: Chrysochloridae)

Abstract

The locomotory activity of a free-ranging, male Chrysospalax trevelyani was monitored for five days in the Amatola Forest, Ciskei, using radio telemetry. In addition, locomotory activity of a captive juvenile male and adult female C. trevelyani was monitored in a special laboratory enclosure for 30 days. Preliminary results indicate that the giant golden mole has a primarily nocturnal regimen possibly associated with its feeding physiology or thermoregulation. It is also suggested that diurnal locomotory activity of C. trevelyani on the surface occurs as a result of extreme conditions and is not usual.