A small burrowing mammal is native to the sandy shores and dunes of the Namib Desert in southern Africa. This little mole is not only unique in its habitat preferences but also in its striking appearance and intriguing behavior.

One of the most distinctive features of Juliana’s golden mole is its fur, which has a metallic sheen that can appear golden in the sunlight. This shimmering effect comes from the structure of the fur, which helps it repel the harsh desert sand and keep the mole clean as it tunnels. The mole’s body is compact and streamlined, perfectly adapted for life underground. It has a pointed snout and strong, spade-like forelimbs that are excellent for digging. Interestingly, despite being called a mole, it is not closely related to the moles found in other parts of the world but shares more distant relations with elephants and manatees.

Juliana’s golden mole is blind, with its eyes covered by a layer of skin and fur. However, what it lacks in vision, it makes up for with an exceptional sense of touch and hearing. The mole’s large, sensitive whiskers and specialized middle ear structure enable it to detect vibrations in the ground, helping it navigate through its underground tunnels and locate prey. Its diet mainly consists of insects and other small invertebrates found beneath the desert surface.

This mole has a unique method of moving through the sand. Unlike many burrowing animals that excavate and leave behind visible tunnels, Juliana’s golden mole practices what is called “sand swimming.” It moves through loose sand just below the surface, almost as if it is swimming, which allows it to remain hidden from predators and conserve energy.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

South Africa

2014

Gauteng, Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga