Two New Moles (Genus Scalopus) from Mexico and Texas

In the spring of 1950 a small team from the University of Kansas ventured into the rugged Sierra del Carmen of northern Coahuila, Mexico, to trap small mammals. While sorting through pocket‑gopher sets, a colleague uncovered a mole that didn’t fit any known description. Careful examination revealed it to be a completely new species, now identified as Scalopus montanus.

The new mole is medium‑sized and slender, with a lightly haired tail, buff‑brown fur tinged with a faint rufous wash, and a distinctive longitudinal band of darker brown along its underside. Its skull is unusually arched and narrow, and the teeth, especially the upper third molar, are smaller than those of its closest relatives. These anatomical features set it apart from the widespread S. aquaticus and the more distant S. inflatus.

Because only a single specimen has been found, S. montanus represents the second record of its genus in Mexico and highlights a surprising gap in the distribution of North American moles. Its discovery underscores the value of meticulous fieldwork in revealing hidden diversity within even well‑studied animal groups.