Spalax

For the French record company, see Spalax (record company).

Spalax is a genus of rodent in the family Spalacidae, subfamily Spalacinae (blind mole-rats). It is one of two extant genera in the subfamily Spalacinae, alongside Nannospalax.^[2]

Spalax
Greater blind mole-rat (S. microphthalmus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Sarcopterygii
Clade:	Tetrapodomorpha
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Spalacidae
Subfamily:	Spalacinae
Genus:	Spalax Güldenstädt, 1770
Type species
Spalax microphthalmus[1] Güldenstädt, 1770
Species
Spalax antiquus Spalax arenarius Spalax giganteus Spalax graecus Spalax istricus Spalax microphthalmus Spalax uralensis Spalax zemni

Species in this genus are found in eastern Europe and western & central Asia.^[3] They are completely blind and have a subterranean lifestyle.^[4]

Taxonomy

Prior to 2013, Spalax was widely considered the only member of Spalacinae, with all blind mole-rat species being grouped within it. However, phylogenetic and morphological evidence supported some of the species within it forming a distinct lineage that diverged from the others during the Late Miocene, when a marine barrier formed between Anatolia and the Balkans. These species were reclassified into the genus Nannospalax, making Spalax one of two extant spalacine genera.^[2]

Species of genus Spalax

• Mehely's blind mole-rat, S. antiquus^[5]
• Sandy blind mole-rat, S. arenarius
• Giant blind mole-rat, S. giganteus
• Bukovina blind mole-rat, S. graecus
• Oltenia blind mole-rat, S. istricus (possibly extinct)^[5]
• Greater blind mole-rat, S. microphthalmus
• Kazakhstan blind mole-rat, S. uralensis
• Podolsk blind mole-rat, S. zemni