<scp>B</scp>ukovina blind mole rat <scp><i>S</i></scp><i>palax graecus</i> revisited: phylogenetics, morphology, taxonomy, habitat associations and conservation

Abstract

Abstract The B ukovina blind mole rat S palax graecus is the westernmost representative of the genus and one of the least known E uropean mammals. As currently understood, the species contains three isolates on both sides of the south‐eastern C arpathian M ountains. Our focus was on B ukovina blind mole rats from north‐eastern R omania and adjacent U kraine, i.e. on the nominal subspecies Spalax graecus graecus Topachevskii 1976. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on 1140‐bp‐long cytochrome b sequence revealed a sister position of S palax graecus against the genus N annospalax . Pairwise K imura two‐parameter genetic divergences were evidently higher between S palax graecus and the three species of N annospalax (mean distances ± standard errors between 0.177 ± 0.014 and 0.197 ± 0.016) than between the three species of N annospalax (up to 0.128 ± 0.010). The two genera were separated by 178 mutational steps. The B ukovina blind mole rat is so far known from 13 localities in north‐eastern R omania and adjacent U kraine. The most influential environmental factors in the S palax graecus habitat model were seasonality in precipitation, type of soil and altitude. The elevational range of suitable habitats is 39–848 m. The area occupied is estimated at 15581 km 2 , but patches with high habitat suitability cover only 1604 km 2 . The main habitat for the B ukovina blind mole rat is likely to degrade and the conservation needs of the species will soon have to be taken into account. We recommend the inclusion of the species on A nnex II or IV of the E uropean U nion's H abitats D irective on grounds of its (i) narrow endemism, (ii) small range of occupancy, (iii) small overall population size and (iv) vulnerability to changes in agricultural land use.