There are no known adverse effects of giant golden moles on humans. Giant golden moles help to control insect pests that they prey on. Giant golden moles are important predators of earthworms and invertebrates in their forest ecosystems. domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris).Giant golden moles remain safe in burrows throughout the day, avoiding diurnal predators. Nocturnal snakes, owls, and mammalian carnivores are potential predators as well. ( Bronner, 2006a Bronner, 2006b Maddock and Hickman, 1985)ĭomestic dogs have been reported preying on giant golden moles. They forage under litter on the forest floor. Giant golden moles are insectivores that feed mostly on earthworms, termites, and millipedes. They likely use their senses of smell, touch, and hearing extensively in perceiving their environment and communicating. The eyes of golden moles are covered with a layer of skin. Information about home range sizes of giant golden moles is not available. ( Bronner, 1995 Bronner, 2006a Bronner, 2006b Maddock and Hickman, 1985 Poduschka, 1980 Poduschka, 1982) Typically, adults are territorial and fight viciously if confined together. They are the only species that has shown any degree of social behavior, though, with several individuals being found together in the same burrow in midwinter, suggesting the possibility of social hibernation. Golden moles are generally solitary, and it is likely that giant golden moles are solitary as well. In the wild, giant golden moles inhabit burrows approximately 10 m long with a network of surface runways. When they sleep, their muscles twitch continuously. When they are awake, they stay moving almost constantly. Most species of golden moles do not need to drink free standing water because of their low metabolic rates and their diet. If they are handled too much while they are in torpor, they will wake up and, in extreme cases, cease eating. When in captivity, they require water to drink and eat an insect diet. While in their burrows they enter a state of torpor until evening. In the wild, they generally enter their burrows before dawn and emerge to forage well after dusk. Little is known about the kinds of parental care provided before independence in giant golden moles. Breeding season It is thought that giant golden moles breed throughout the year.įemales nurse and care for their young until they are weaned.Breeding interval Breeding intervals are not known for giant golden moles.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).In general, females raise one to two young per litter. It is believed that they are polyestrous and breed throughout the year. There is little available information on breeding behavior in giant golden moles. In response to this, females make rasping and squealing noises.
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