'Phantom mole' recorded for first time in northern Japan's Shirakami-Sanchi mountains
AOMORI -- The Japanese mountain mole, sometimes called a "phantom mole," has been found for the first time in the Shirakami-Sanchi mountains, a UNESCO
A research group at Hirosaki University has announced the discovery of a Japanese mountain mole, also known as a phantom mole, in the Shirakami-Sanchi mountains of northern Japan for the first time. The species, known for its limited distribution in Honshu's forests, is classified as near threatened by the Ministry of Environment.
In 2019, professor Takeyuki Nakamura found a mole carcass on a trail near Anmon Falls in Aomori Prefecture, which was later identified as a Japanese mountain mole based on its physical characteristics. The species has previously been recorded in Aomori Prefecture, with most specimens found in the Hakkoda mountains around Aomori city.
However, Chie Murano, an assistant professor and member of the research group, suggests that the Japanese mountain mole may inhabit the entire Shirakami-Sanchi mountains, including the Akita side, where no records have been found before. The findings were published in the July issue of Mammalian Science.
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