A grassland golden mole of the inland plateau of South Africa. It digs through the rocky soils of the Highveld in search of earthworms and insects, and settles readily in well-watered gardens and small farms at the edge of its range. Completely blind like all its relatives, it finds its way around its underground world entirely by touch and vibration.
Small cylindrical body with no visible tail or external ears, and fur with a metallic sheen. Practically indistinguishable in external appearance from other golden moles of the genus Amblysomus, so its distribution across the Highveld grasslands of north-eastern South Africa is the main guide to identification.
Raised, winding ridges at the surface from shallow foraging tunnels, most visible in the upper soil layer after rain. Deeper permanent burrows lie in denser, more compact soils. It leaves no visible tracks or droppings, given its subterranean lifestyle.
Rocky Highveld grassland, moist savannah and disturbed ground, including watered gardens and smallholdings, across north-eastern South Africa and Eswatini.
Insectivorous, feeding on earthworms and other soil invertebrates.
Solitary, active mainly underground, with foraging activity concentrated in the topmost soil layers.
The population is considered to be declining owing to continued habitat degradation over part of its range, although it remains relatively widespread across the Highveld grasslands.
Habitat degradation and fragmentation from coal mining, agriculture and urbanisation in the Highveld grasslands.
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