Overview

Cryptochloris wintoni – (Broom, 1907) 

ANIMALIA – CHORDATA – MAMMALIA – AFROSORICIDA – CHRYSOCHLORIDAE – Cryptochloris – wintoni 

Common Names: De Winton’s Golden Mole (English), De Winton se Gouemol, De Winton se Kruipmol (Afrikaans)

Synonyms: Chrysochloris wintoni Broom, 1907 

Taxonomic Note:
Some authors (e.g., Simonetta 1968) treated this taxon as only subspecifically distinct from C. zyli, but these taxa differ consistently in pelage colour and malleus morphology, indicating that they are not conspecific (Meester 1974).  Recent phylogenetic analyses based on both morphological and genetic data support the allocation of these taxa to separate species (Bronner et al. 2024).

This species is easily confused with Grant’s Golden Mole (Eremitalpa granti). A specimen in the Smithsonian Institution collected near Garies (181 km southeast of the type locality) is a misidentified E. granti. Conversely, several specimens of this taxon in the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Museum of Comparative Zoology (Harvard) and Natural History Museum (London) are incorrectly identified as E. granti (Asher and Avery 2010). Although externally similar to E. granti, radiographs make Cryptochloris easy to recognise based on malleus shape, vertebral count, and length of humeral medial epicondyle (Asher and Avery 2010, Bronner et al. 2024).

Red List Status: Critically Endangered, B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment Information

Assessor: Mynhardt, S.¹ & da Silva, J.² 

Reviewer: Asher, R.J.³ 

Institutions: ¹Endangered Wildlife Trust, ²South African National Biodiversity Institute, ³University of Cambridge 

Previous Assessor: Bronner, G. 

Previous Reviewers: Asher, R.J. & Taylor, A. 

Assessment Rationale 

Specimens are known from only the type locality, but recent evidence based on environmental DNA suggests a more widespread distribution (Mynhardt et al. 2024). The species occurs in an area of high threat owing to radical habitat transformation by alluvial diamond and mineral mining, so it is listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), notwithstanding the possibility of a more widespread occurrence. 

Reasons for Change 

Reason(s) for Change in Red List Category from the Previous Assessment: No change 

Red List Index 

Red List Index: No change from a Critically Endangered category

Recommended Citation: Mynhardt S & da Silva JM. 2025. A conservation assessment of Cryptochloris wintoni. In Patel T, Smith C, Roxburgh L, da Silva JM & Raimondo D, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.

Regional Distribution and occurrence

Geographic Range  

This species is endemic to South Africa. Recorded only from the type locality at Port Nolloth, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. However, preliminary evidence from eDNA suggests a more widespread distribution. 

Elevation / Depth / Depth Zones 

Elevation Lower Limit (in metres above sea level): (Not specified) 

Elevation Upper Limit (in metres above sea level): (Not specified) 

Depth Lower Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified) 

Depth Upper Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified) 

Depth Zone: (Not specified) 

Map

Figure 1. Distribution records for De Winton’s Golden Mole (Cryptochloris wintoni) within the assessment region (South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho). Note that distribution data is obtained from multiple sources and records have not all been individually verified.

Biogeographic Realms 

Biogeographic Realm: Afrotropical 

Occurrence 

Countries of Occurrence 

Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) Occurrence 

Large Marine Ecosystems: (Not specified) 

FAO Area Occurrence 

FAO Marine Areas: (Not specified) 

Climate change

Although the potential impacts of climate change on golden moles have not been directly assessed, climate change is expected to impact most golden mole species. Since these subterranean animals are restricted to soft soils for burrowing, and have very low vagility, their ability to migrate or shift their distribution ranges in response to climate change is very limited. Climate change is likely to impact golden moles through changes in vegetation type, soil moisture and prey availability, and coastal species additionally through reduced available habitat in developed/developing areas, as rising sea levels reduce the area of undeveloped coastal dune habitats between the coast and its associated developments. 

Population information

This species is considered extremely rare. It is sympatric with E. granti and possibly underestimated due to external resemblance thereto. All of the golden moles in the Namaqualand coastal region are exceptionally difficult to catch, so this species could be more common or widespread than current records indicate. Preliminary evidence from eDNA suggests presence at multiple additional sites along the Namaqualand coastal region (Mynhardt et al. 2024). However, these findings are yet to be corroborated by observations of the animals themselves. 

Population Information 

Current population trend: Unknown 

Continuing decline in mature individuals? Unknown 

Extreme fluctuations in the number of subpopulations: (Not specified) 

Continuing decline in number of subpopulations: (Not specified) 

All individuals in one subpopulation: Yes 

Number of subpopulations: One 

Number of mature individuals in population: Unknown 

Severely fragmented: Yes 

Quantitative Analysis 

Probability of extinction in the wild within 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified) 

Probability of extinction in the wild within 5 generations or 20 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified) 

Probability of extinction in the wild within 100 years: (Not specified)

Population genetics

This species was deemed extinct until a recent environmental DNA (eDNA) investigation detected its DNA at multiple sites along the Namaqualand coastal region (Mynhardt et al. 2024). Given that eDNA uses short barcode fragments to identify species against reference barcodes, it is not possible to determine genetic substructure below species-level; however, given its restricted distribution it is generally assumed that a single subpopulation or metapopulation exists. Due to its elusive nature and because the species has not actually been observed, no estimates of population size are possible.

Habitats and ecology

Occurs on coastal dunes and adjacent sandy areas in Strandveld of the Namaqualand coastal plain (Succulent Karoo biome) of the Northern Cape (Bronner 2013). They construct subsurface runs, which can extend for 50–60 m, often ranging under vegetation, where their prey is more abundant. Their prey includes insects (including pupae and larvae), and legless lizards (Roberts 1951).

Ecosystem and cultural services: This species is not known to provide any ecosystem services, but this may simply reflect the paucity of information available for this poorly-known species. 

IUCN Habitats Classification Scheme 

Life History 

Generation Length: (Not specified) 

Age at Maturity: Female or unspecified: (Not specified) 

Age at Maturity: Male: (Not specified) 

Size at Maturity (in cms): Female: (Not specified) 

Size at Maturity (in cms): Male: (Not specified) 

Longevity: (Not specified) 

Average Reproductive Age: (Not specified) 

Maximum Size (in cms): 9

Size at Birth (in cms): (Not specified) 

Gestation Time: (Not specified) 

Reproductive Periodicity: (Not specified) 

Average Annual Fecundity or Litter Size: (Not specified) 

Natural Mortality: (Not specified)  

Breeding Strategy 

Does the species lay eggs? No

Does the species give birth to live young: Yes

Does the species exhibit parthenogenesis: No 

Does the species have a free-living larval stage? No

Does the species require water for breeding? No

Movement Patterns 

Movement Patterns: (Not specified) 

Congregatory: (Not specified) 

Systems 

System: Terrestrial 

General Use and Trade Information 

General notes regarding trade and use of this species: This species is not known to be utilised or traded in any form. 

Local Livelihood: (Not specified) 

National Commercial Value: (Not specified) 

International Commercial Value: (Not specified) 

End Use: (Not specified) 

Is there harvest from captive/cultivated sources of this species? (Not specified) 

Harvest Trend Comments: (Not specified) 

Threats

Habitat alteration as a result of mining of coastal sands for alluvial diamonds and minerals in the Port Nolloth district may pose a threat to this species (Smithers 1986). The type locality is near Port Nolloth, an important regional harbour that is being expanded to establish more fish processing plants and abalone maricultures, so infrastructural developments with increased human densities can also be considered a possible threat (urban development has expanded by 13% in the Northern Cape between 2000 and 2013; GeoterraImage 2015). 

Current habitat trend: Declining in area and quality. 

Conservation

Currently ranks among the top mammalian species (no. 161) on the EDGE List of the EDGE of Existence Programme (Zoological Society of London), which aims to conserve the world’s Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered species. The EDGE of Existence programme uses EDGE Lists to prioritise species for conservation. EDGE Lists comprise the most evolutionarily distinct and threatened species on Earth—EDGE Species—the loss of which would represent the loss of long branches of the Tree of Life. This species is not recorded from any protected areas. Fieldwork to survey for populations and assess the extent of anthropogenic threats is urgently needed. Research to determine distribution limits and basic ecology is also a priority. 

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners: 

• Fieldwork to survey for subpopulations and assess the extent of anthropogenic threats is urgently needed.  
• Monitoring the only known population at Port Nolloth, to determine densities, ecological requirements and niche tolerances. 

Research priorities: 

• Research to determine distribution limits, basic ecology, life history traits and habitat tolerances is a priority. 
• Monitoring recolonisation of rehabilitated mining areas and population viability needed to assess efficacy of remedial rehabilitation actions. 
• Population genetic analysis including representatives of all known subpopulations representative of entire distribution range to identify and quantify population substructure and levels of historic and current gene flow. 
• Studies assessing subpopulation trends and the severity of threats outside of protected areas. 
• Research into population recoveries in rehabilitated mined areas. 

Encouraged citizen actions: 

• Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iNaturalist and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas.  
• Deposit any dead specimens found in a state or provincial museum, together with information on the date and site where found. 
• Create indigenous vegetation gardens. 

Bibliography

Afrotheria Specialist Group. 2014. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.afrotheria.net/index.php.  

Asher, R.J. and Avery, D.M. 2010. New golden moles (Afrotheria, Chrysochloridae) from the Pliocene of South Africa. Paleontologica Electronica 13(1): 3A. 

Asher, R.J., Maree, S., Bronner, G., Bennett, N.C., Bloomer, P., Czechowski, P., Meyer, M. and Hofreiter, M. 2010. A phylogenetic estimate for golden moles (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Chrysochloridae). BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 69 (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-10-69). 

Bronner, G.N. 2013. Cryptochloris wintoni. In: J. Kingdon, D. Happold, T. Butynski, M. Hoffmann, M. Happold and J. Kalina (eds), Mammals of Africa, Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria, pp. 250-251. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. 

Bronner, G.N. and Jenkins, P.D. 2005. Order Afrosoricida. In: D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 70-81. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA. 

Bronner, G.N., Mynhardt, S., Bennett, N.C., Cohen, L., Crumpton, N., Hofreiter, M., Arnold, P. and Asher, R.J., 2024. Phylogenetic history of golden moles and tenrecs (Mammalia: Afrotheria). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 201(1), pp.184-213.  

Broom, R. 1907. A contribution to the knowledge of the Cape golden moles. Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 18: 283–311. 

IUCN. 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 23 June 2015). 

Meester, J. 1974. Family Chrysochloridae. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. 

Mynhardt, S., Matthew, E., Le Roux, J.P., Little, I., Bloomer, P. and Theron, C., 2024. Environmental DNA from soil reveals the presence of a “lost” Afrotherian species. Biodiversity and Conservation 33(1), pp.31-50. 

Roberts, A. 1951. The Mammals of South Africa. Central New Agency, Johannesburg, South Africa.  

Simonetta, A.M. 1968. A new golden mole from Somalia with an appendix on the taxonomy of the family Chrysochloridae (Mammalia, Insectivora). Monitore zoologici Italiano, Supplement 2: 27–55. 

Smithers R.H.N. 1986. South African Red Data Book – Terrestrial Mammals. South African National Scientific Programmes Report 125: 1–216.