# Somali golden mole (Calcochloris tytonis)

> The Somali golden mole, known only from bones in an owl pellet found at Jowhar in 1964: how it was discovered, how it differs from other golden moles, and its Red List status.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/nature/somali-golden-mole/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

The Somali golden mole (*Calcochloris tytonis*) is a golden mole, a small burrowing mammal of the family Chrysochloridae. It is endemic to Somalia ([GBIF, *Calcochloris tytonis*](https://www.gbif.org/species/2432184)).

## How it was found

In 1964 Alberto Simonetta of the University of Florence found pieces of its jaw and ear bones inside a barn owl pellet at Jowhar, in Middle [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/). An owl pellet is the ball of bones and fur that an owl coughs up after eating ([Wikipedia, Somali golden mole, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_golden_mole)). Simonetta published the species in 1968 ([GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/species/2432184)).

## How it differs from other golden moles

Its lower jaw has a different shape from other members of the family. The length of the jaw fits within the range of *Amblysomus leucorhinus* and *Amblysomus sclateri*, but the rising part of the jaw is much wider, by about 2 mm, than in the closest match ([Wikipedia, Somali golden mole, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_golden_mole)).

## Records in Somali lands

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) holds 3 records of the Somali golden mole from Somalia ([GBIF occurrence search, Somalia](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=SO&taxon_key=2432184)). By type: 3 specimens cited in published papers.

GBIF only holds what museums, scientists and observers have shared, so the counts show where the animal or plant has been recorded, not its full range.

## Red List status

The IUCN Red List category for the Somali golden mole is **Data Deficient** ([IUCN Red List assessment](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T4767A21285700.en); [GBIF species page](https://www.gbif.org/species/2432184)).

## Classification

| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Afrosoricida |
| Family | Chrysochloridae |
| Genus | Calcochloris |
| Species | *Calcochloris tytonis* |

Scientific name with author: *Calcochloris tytonis* (Simonetta, 1968) ([GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/species/2432184)).

## Related pages

- [Middle Shabelle](/en/regions/middle-shabelle/)
- [Mammals of Somalia](/en/nature/mammals-of-somalia/)

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List assessment](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T4767A21285700.en)
- [GBIF species page](https://www.gbif.org/species/2432184)
- [GBIF occurrence records, Somalia](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=SO&taxon_key=2432184)
- [Wikipedia (backup)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_golden_mole)

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