golden mole, noun phrase
- Origin:
- Named for the metallic gleam of its fur.
a. Any of several species of insectivorous mole-like mammals of the family Chrysochloridae, with no visible eyes and no external ears or tails. Cf. blesmol.
1855 W.S. Dallas in System of Nat. Hist. II. 490The peculiar metallic lustre of their coats, which has given rise to the name of Golden Mole (Chrysochloris aurea).
1990 J. Huntly Afr. Wildlife Sketches 88To glimpse an African Golden Mole in the open above ground would be a rare event...My only contact with a Golden Mole was over before it began, for my dog had caught and killed it before I could rescue it.
b. With distinguishing epithet:
1987 T.F.J. Van Rensburg Intro. to Fynbos 52As far as small mammals are concerned, there are quite a few endangered and endemic species in the fynbos. The following endangered species occur: Visagie’s golden mole (Calvinia) Grant’s golden desert mole (Lambert’s Bay).
Any of several species of insectivorous mole-like mammals of the family Chrysochloridae, with no visible eyes and no external ears or tails.
Copyright © 2023 Dictionary Unit for South African English.