Hickman G C
Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, R.S.A.
Prog Clin Biol Res. 1990;335:23-48.
Earliest chrysochlorids (from the Miocene) resemble contemporary members of the family. Unlike talpids, chrysochlorids have eyes covered with skin; pick-like foreclaws; a blunt, padded rostrum; and no external tail. Golden moles are an ancient lineage of mammals (related to tenrecs) with many unique features; it has been suggested that the Chrysochloridae constitute a separate order, the Chrysochloridea. In contrast, a constancy of structure within the group belies the wide range in habitat of the various species (including grassland, forest, and shifting desert sands), in contrast to the aquatic desmans and shrew-like talpids. Some species of golden mole are able to disperse over large distances, being accomplished swimmers (as are talpids) and having a wide range of diet; nonetheless, populations and species are patchily distributed throughout the range of the family (Africa south of the Sahara whereas talpids occur in the northern hemisphere). Diversity of chrysochlorid species is greatest in Southern Africa, from which emigrations to the north probably occurred. Although solitary, there is little evidence for competitive exclusion between the chrysochlorids, rhizomyids, or the more social and aggressive bathyergid rodent moles to explain the high incidence of endemism. Low litter sizes are indicative of the few predators known to effectively prey on golden moles. Physical factors which might restrict species from an area (such as food shortages and temperature extremes) may be overcome by becoming torpid, an ability unknown for other subterranean mammals. Clustering of largely immobile food resources and friable soils appear to be the major factors influencing chrysochlorid distribution. There is substantial need for basic studies on all aspects of the biology of chrysochlorids for a better understanding of evolutionary processes within the family, which will in turn contribute to a broader understanding and more balanced view of evolutionary processes in all subterranean mammals.
最早的金毛鼹（来自中新世）与该科现代成员相似。与鼹形鼠不同，金毛鼹的眼睛被皮肤覆盖；前爪如镐；吻部钝且有肉垫；没有外露的尾巴。金毛鼹是一类古老的哺乳动物谱系（与刺猬有关），具有许多独特特征；有人认为金毛鼹科构成一个单独的目，即金毛鼹目。相比之下，该类群内部结构的一致性掩盖了不同物种广泛的栖息地范围（包括草原、森林和移动的沙漠沙地），这与水生麝鼹和鼩鼱状的鼹形鼠形成对比。一些金毛鼹物种能够远距离扩散，是出色的游泳者（与鼹形鼠一样），且食物种类繁多；尽管如此，种群和物种在整个科的分布范围内分布不均（撒哈拉以南非洲，而鼹形鼠分布在北半球）。金毛鼹物种的多样性在南非最为丰富，可能是从那里向北迁移的。虽然金毛鼹是独居的，但几乎没有证据表明金毛鼹、竹鼠或更具社会性和攻击性的囊鼠科啮齿鼹之间存在竞争排斥，以解释高特有率的现象。低窝仔数表明已知能有效捕食金毛鼹的捕食者很少。可能限制物种进入某一区域的物理因素（如食物短缺和极端温度）可以通过进入蛰伏状态来克服，这是其他地下哺乳动物所没有的能力。大量固定食物资源的聚集和易碎的土壤似乎是影响金毛鼹分布的主要因素。迫切需要对金毛鼹生物学的各个方面进行基础研究，以便更好地理解该科内部的进化过程，这反过来将有助于更广泛地理解和更全面地看待所有地下哺乳动物的进化过程。
