Blesmol - Classification

Classification

Although there is some controversy, the closest living relatives of the blesmols appear to be other African hystricognaths in the families Thryonomyidae (cane rats) and Petromuridae (dassie rats). Together these three living families along with their fossil relatives represent the infraorder Phiomorpha.

At present 22 species of blesmols from 6 genera are accepted, but this number is likely to increase. Like other fossorial rodents such as pocket gophers, tuco-tucos, and blind mole rats, blesmols appear to speciate rapidly. They become geographically isolated easily, leading to various chromosomal forms and genetically distinct races. Some studies have suggested that the genus Bathyergus represents the basal-most lineage, but most researchers accept that Heterocephalus holds that position.

• Family Bathyergidae
  • Subfamily Bathyerginae
    • Georychus - Cape Blesmol
      • Georychus capensis - Cape Blesmol
    • Cryptomys
      • Cryptomys anomalus - no common name
      • Cryptomys holosericeus - no common name
      • Cryptomys hottentotus - Common Mole Rat
      • Cryptomys natalensis - no common name
      • Cryptomys nimrodi - Matabeleland Mole Rat
    • Fukomys
      • Fukomys amatus - Zambian Blesmol
      • Fukomys anselli - Ansell's Blesmol
      • Fukomys bocagei - Bocage's Blesmol
      • Fukomys damarensis - Damaraland Blesmol
      • Fukomys darlingi - Mashona Blesmol
      • Fukomys foxi - Nigerian Blesmol
      • Fukomys ilariae - Somali striped Mole Rat
      • Fukomys kafuensis - Kafue Blesmol
      • Fukomys mechowii - Mechow's Blesmol
      • Fukomys micklemi - Kataba Blesmol
      • Fukomys occlusus - no common name
      • Fukomys ochraceocinereus - Ochre Blesmol
      • Fukomys whytei - Malawian Blesmol
      • Fukomys zechi - Ghana Blesmol
    • Heliophobius - Silvery Blesmol
      • Heliophobius argenteocinereus - Silvery Blesmol
    • Bathyergus - Dune blesmols
      • Bathyergus janetta - Namaqua Dune Mole Rat
      • Bathyergus suillus - Cape Dune Mole Rat
  • Subfamily Heterocephalinae - Naked Mole Rat
    • Heterocephalus - Naked Mole Rat
      • Heterocephalus glaber - Naked Mole Rat