©S L O © Y IL L O S A
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CHRYSOCHLORIS VILLOSA.—S m i t h .
M am m a lia .— P la t e IX.
C. supra lueide flavo-brunnea; corporis lateribus, partibus inferioribusque griseo-brunneis; labiis, mento
strigaque ex angulo oris porrecta albis; unguibus flavo-albis; vellere villoso.
L ongitudo 5 unc.
Chrysochloris villosa, Smith, South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, Vol. I. page 81, 1833.
C o l o u r .—Above shining yellowish brown, faintly brindled with a dark
brown, each hair is slate-coloured towards and at the base, yellowish brown
in the middle, and brown at the point; sides of body and belly greyish
brown, tipper and lower lips, chin, and a well marked oblique stripe
between the angle of the mouth and the sides of the neck yellowish white,
the latter in particular slightly pencilled with brown; upper surface of
snout flesh-coloured ; nails yellowish white.
F o rm .— Typical; muzzle rather elongated, semicircular at the apex, flattened
above, and for some distance behind the point is denuded of fur,—the
bare space is nearly semicircular. Body rather massive; fur long and rigid—|
its length great when compared with that of the other South African species
of the genus. The outermost claw of the fore foot strong and considerably
curved, the second smaller, the third delicate and short; all the claws of the
hinder feet long, slender, and but slightly curved. No eyes visible.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length from the tip of the nose to
the angle of the mouth....... 0 6
Length of the hinder legs.................... 0 6
Inches. Lines.
Length of the outer claw of the fore
foot ....... ........................... 0 6
Total length of the animal ................ 5 0
Height.................................................. 2 3
The genus Chrysochloris, as far as we yet know, is purely an African form; and until the
discovery of the present animal it contained only two species. When Chrysochloris villosa
became known it formed a third species, and latterly a fourth has been described by Mr. Ogilby,
under the name of Ch. Damarensis;* all four are natives of South Africa. The two species
* Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1838, page 5.