Talpa tyrrhenica
| Tyrrhenian mole Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Fossil humerus of the Tyrrhenian mole (Talpa tyrrhenica) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Talpidae |
| Genus: | Talpa |
| Species: | †T. tyrrhenica |
| Binomial name | |
| †Talpa tyrrhenica Bate, 1945 | |
Talpa tyrrhenica, also known as the Tyrrhenian mole, is an extinct species of mole belonging to the genus Talpa. It was endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia during the Pleistocene epoch.
It was first described in 1945 by Dorothea Bate, Remains with affinities to the species extend back to around 2 to 2.1 million years ago on the archipelago, during the Early Pleistocene. It is suggested to have evolved from the mainland European species Talpa minor, which is known from the archipelago during the Pliocene. It is estimated to have been around 15% larger than its mainland ancestor. The species survived into the Late Pleistocene, but the timing of its extinction is uncertain due to a lack of radiocarbon dates.