One of the rarest golden moles in Africa, known with certainty from only a couple of isolated forest and grassland localities on the eastern slopes of the Lebombo Mountains. Its extremely restricted range puts its whole population at risk from any local change in habitat. Like all golden moles, it is completely blind, with reduced eyes permanently covered by skin, an adaptation to a life spent almost entirely underground.
Small cylindrical body with no visible tail or external ears, and dense fur with a metallic sheen, dark reddish brown on the back and dull brown to orange-brown on the belly. It is practically indistinguishable from other golden moles of the genus Amblysomus without genetic or cranial analysis, so identification in the field rests mainly on its very restricted distribution in the Lebombo Mountains.
Raised, winding ridges at the surface marking shallow foraging tunnels just beneath the ground, most visible after rain. The deeper nesting chambers are usually located under roots or large rocks. It leaves no visible tracks or droppings, since it almost never comes to the surface.
Native forest and moist grassland, including gardens, on the eastern slopes of the Lebombo Mountains, in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), and possibly in Eswatini.
Insectivorous, feeding on earthworms and other soil invertebrates found while digging.
Solitary and predominantly nocturnal. Like other golden moles, it builds both shallow foraging tunnels and deeper, permanent nesting burrows.
Known from an extremely small area of occupancy, with only a couple of confirmed localities, which places it at high risk even though no single catastrophic threat has been identified. Monitoring and protection of its known localities are considered a priority.
Habitat degradation from livestock overgrazing, removal of vegetation for firewood, and urban expansion within its very limited range.
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