Rediscovered After Almost a Century: Eyeless Iridescent Golden Mole With Super-Hearing Abilities ‘Swims’ Through Sand Dunes

De Winton’s golden mole was thought to be extinct for 87 years until it was rediscovered in November 2023.

A rare and elusive mammal that was thought to be extinct for almost a century has been rediscovered by scientists in South Africa. The De Winton’s golden mole, a small, blind burrower with super-hearing powers, has an iridescent golden coat and the ability to “swim” through sand dunes. It had been a species “lost to science” since 1936, when the last specimen was collected.

The remarkable discovery was made by a team of researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the University of Pretoria, who used environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, a technique never used before, to confirm the presence of the mole on a beach in Port Nolloth on the west coast of South Africa. eDNA is a technique that detects traces of genetic material left behind by animals in their environment, such as hair, skin cells, or excrement.

“It was a very exciting project with many challenges,” said Esther Matthew, senior field officer with Endangered Wildlife Trust in a statement. “Luckily we had a fantastic team full of enthusiasm and innovative ideas. Which is exactly what you need when you have to survey up to 18 kilometers [11.2 miles] of dune habitat in a day.”

The researchers collected more than 100 soil samples from beaches and dunes on the northwest coast of South Africa in June 2021, and sent them to a laboratory for eDNA analysis. They were joined by a scent-detection border collie, specially trained to locate golden moles by sniffing, assisting in tracing the trails left by these elusive creatures. The results showed that there were at least two individuals of De Winton’s golden mole living in the area, one male and one female.

The team then returned to the site in November 2021, and managed to capture one of the moles using a specially designed trap. They took measurements, photographs and tissue samples of the animal, before releasing it back into its habitat. The mole was about 10 cm long and weighed about 40 grams. It had no eyes, but had enlarged ears and a sensitive nose that helped it navigate underground. It also had powerful claws and a wedge-shaped head that enabled it to dig through sand.

The De Winton’s golden mole is one of 21 species of golden moles, which are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and are not closely related to true moles or rodents. They are classified as insectivores, and feed on ants, termites and other invertebrates. They are adapted to live in arid and semi-arid habitats, where they create tunnels under the sand and emerge at night to forage.

In fact, golden moles spend so much time underground that they have no external eyes! More precisely, their eyes are covered by skin and fur, making them completely blind. A Reddit thread discussed the question of whether a golden mole would be able to see if its skin was removed. While it is not possible to know for sure, the general consensus is that it would still not be able to see very well.

Despite their lack of functional eyes, golden moles are highly adept at locating their food underground. They rely on a combination of their other senses, particularly touch, smell, and hearing, to navigate their subterranean world and find their insect prey.

The De Winton’s golden mole is considered to be one of the most endangered mammals in the world, as it is only known from a few locations along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. It faces threats from habitat loss, mining, climate change and predation by domestic cats and dogs. The researchers hope that their discovery will raise awareness and conservation efforts for this unique and charismatic creature.