Ghana mole-rat

{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Speciesbox | name = Ghana mole-rat | image = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Maree, S. |author2=Faulkes, C. |author3=Schlitter, D. |date=2016 |title=''Fukomys zechi'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T5751A22184502 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5751A22184502.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Fukomys | species = zechi | authority = (Matschie, 1900) | synonyms = }}

The '''Ghana mole-rat''' or '''Togo mole-rat''' ('''''Fukomys zechi''''') is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to Ghana.

Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, caves, and arable land. It commonly breeds during rainy months such as March to August. In a colony, reproduction is limited to one male and one female.

<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Yeboah|first1=S.|last2=Dakwa|first2=K. B.|date=June 2002|title=Aspects of the feeding habits and reproductive biology of the Ghana mole-rat Cryptomys zechi (Rodentia, Bathyergidae)|journal=African Journal of Ecology|volume=40|issue=2|pages=110–119|doi=10.1046/j.1365-2028.2002.00326.x|bibcode=2002AfJEc..40..110Y |issn=0141-6707}}</ref> An important source of food for the Ghana mole-rats is the succulent roots of most plants. The mole rats eat the roots and taproots of various plants such as ''Arachis'', ''Vigna'', ''Cucumeropsis'' and ''Dioscorea abyssinica'', as well as young ''Anacardium''.

==References== {{Reflist}} *Woods, C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2005. pp 1538–1600 ''in'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

Category:Mammals of West Africa Category:Fukomys Category:Endemic fauna of Ghana Category:Mammals described in 1900 Category"Taxa named by Paul Matschie Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot