Description, taxonomy, and distribution of Talpa davidiana

The type of Talpa streeti is shown to be cranially very close to and thus p robably conspecific with Scaptochirus davidianus, a little known mole descr ibed from the border between "Syria and Asia Minor". The pelvis of T. david iana is of caecoidal type, thus disproving any relationship between this sp ecies and Scaptochirus moschatus from China. This species is known from two Localities in Iran (Kurdistan) and from three regions in Turkey: vicinity of Meydanekbez, Hakkari and Tatvan. Around Tatvan, T. davidiana is sympatri c with T. levantis. Specimens of T. davidiana from Iran and Hakkari have a complete dental complement of 44 teeth. Due to the absence of Lower incisor s and the peglike premolars, this number is reduced to 38 in three moles fr om Tatvan and to 39 (asymmetry) in the type of S. davidianus.