The Southern birch mouse (Sicista subtilis) is a small-sized rodent species characteristic of the Palearctic steppes with westernmost occurrences in central Europe. The species was considered to be extinct in Transylvania (central Romania), but in our field survey we captured three living individuals near the city of Cluj-Napoca. On the basis of nuclear interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences, we assessed the taxonomic status of the newly found S. subtilis population by comparing them to available sequences, including the sequences of its subspecies. The Transylvanian samples were found to be genetically closest to the Hungarian samples of S. subtilis trizona. These new records extend the known geographic range of this rediscovered species and provide additional information on its habitat preference and external morphological features. Moreover, our phylogenetic tree reconstruction for seven Sicista taxa provides a basic insight into the phylogenetic relationships of the genus, placing the northern Eurasian taxa (S. betulina and S. subtilis) at the crown of the tree and the central Asian taxa at the base of the tree. The Transylvanian occurrence of S. subtilis trizona, which is endemic to the Carpathian Basin, is of high faunistic value as a result of an increase in the number of known populations of this subspecies -one of the most endangered rodents of Europe -from one to two.

Recent research of blind mole rats of the species complex Nannospalax (superspecies leucodon) identified a small and fragmented population of these rodents on both sides of the Hungarian-Serbian border. Cytogenetic investigations proved that this population karyologically identical with the Vojvodina blind mole rat described earlier as Nannospalax (leucodon) montanosyrmiensis. Based on cytochrome b gene sequences obtained from three specimens originating from separate locations, these blind mole rats form a discrete phylogenetic clade which, with a difference of about 10%, is well separated from other blind mole rat taxa inhabiting the Carpathian Basin. The taxon has only two extant populations that are 150 km apart from each other. The combined occupied area is estimated to be less than 10 km2, and the total estimated number of individuals is less than 300. These two remaining populations are heavily fragmented and under imminent threat by the establishment of tree plantations, small-scale and agro-industrial farms and land development. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that 80% of the individuals inhabit unprotected areas. A study of the landscape history of the wider area surrounding one of the populations - based on military maps spanning over the last 200 years - has shown a drastic decrease in the extent and quality of potential habitats. Based on our present knowledge, the Vojvodina blind mole rat is one of the most seriously threatened, rarest mammal in Europe, the remaining population of which can be wiped out within years unless immediate conservation action is taken.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Danger underground and in the open -predation on blind mole rats (Rodentia:Spalacinae) revisited Abstract 1. Being totally blind with no tail and earconch, blind mole rats -found in the Balkan Peninsula, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and North-East Africa -are the most specialised rodents for the subterranean lifestyle. However, they come to the surface occasionally due to unusual climatic events, foraging activity, collecting hay for bedding material, dispersal of the subadults, intraspecific aggression, and illness. 2.The only review of surface activity and suffered predation of blind mole rats (published in 1991) suggests that the surface activity of and, consequently, the predation on blind mole rats are uncommon events, and that they are preyed on mainly at night by owls.3. The present review based on 57 scientific publications, 14 unpublished reports and several personal observations (from 15 countries) reveals that altogether 26 species of birds and mammals prey on blind mole rats either regularly or occasionally. It is evidenced herewith, that not only the number of predators, but even the percentage of blind mole rats in their diet has been seriously underestimated. 5.The tight relation between the colours of the soil and the pelage of blind mole rats suggests the importance of diurnal raptors via their selective impact. Predation by mammals happens relatively often and there is a high possibility that mustelids hunt blind mole rats not only on the surface but also inside their burrows. The labyrinth-like structure of the burrows can probably play a vital role confusing the mammalian predators trying to hunt inside the burrows, and increase the prey's chances to escape. 6.With the proven importance of blind mole rats as a food resource of several threatened birds of prey, the survival, reproduction success and population size of these species may partly also depend on the density of these rodents. Although many species within the subfamily are threatened themselves to different extents, the role of blind mole rat populations in the carnivore and raptor conservation should be considered and evaluated. Cytogenetic (Lyapunova et al. 1971) and molecular genetic (Hadid et al. 2012, Chişamera et al. 2013) works provided evidences of deep divergences within the subfamily therefore the two genera (Spalax and Nannospalax) classification scheme has been followed here in accordance with the most recent publications (Németh et al. 2009, 2013, Arslan et al. 2011, Kryštufek et al. 2012, Chişamera et al. 2013. The species of the subfamily have adapted to subterranean life (Méhely 1909, Topachevskii 1969, Savić & Nevo 1990. These small mammals have cylindrically shaped bodies with no external ears, a vestigial tail, very short legs and are completely blind as a result of spending their entire life in their tunnel system built underground (Vásárhelyi 1926, Topachevskii 1969. This subterranean way of life protects them from almost every predator (Vásárhelyi 1926, 1929, Watson 1961, Topachevskii 1969. How...

A délvidéki földikutya legnagyobb egyedszámú ismert állományának otthont adó Bajai földikutya-rezervátum közelében, szükségessé vált egy kisebb töredékállomány kimenekítése egy tervezett napelem park építési területéről. A 2017-ben végrehajtott akció során tíz példány áttelepítésére került sor a védett terület egy, az akció idején földikutyák által addig nem lakott részére. A transzlokációt követően egy éven át nyomon követtük a létrehozott új töredékállomány sorsát. Az új állomány megfigyelési eredményeinek valamint egy korábbi, már lezárult és sikeresnek ítélt áttelepítés monitoring adatainak összevetése alapján kedvezőtlen trend rajzolódott ki. A befogási és elengedési helyszín különféle ökológiai változóinak (domborzati, talajtani és növénytani) összehasonlítása során a kijelölt áttelepítési helyszín esetleges alkalmatlansága is felmerül. A bemutatott eredmények hozzájárulhatnak a jövőbeli hasonló áttelepítési akciók sikerességéhez.