Traditionally, zokors were thought to be closely related to either hamsters (Cricetinae) or voles (Arvicolinae), but molecular phylogenetic studies in 2004 demonstrated they are more closely related to blind mole-rats (Spalacinae) and root and bamboo rats (Rhizomyinae) in the family Spalacidae.[3] This implies that one of the first important evolutionary splits in muroid rodents is between burrowing forms and nonburrowing forms.[citation needed]
Unlike the other spalacids, which primarily use their incisors, zokors use their powerful front claws for digging. They have small eyes and no external ears. Zokors feed on plant matter such as tubers and seeds.[citation needed]
Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp.894–1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
↑Norris, R.W.; Zhou, K.Y.; etal. (2004). "The phylogenetic position of the zokors (Myospalacinae) and comments on the families of muroids (Rodentia)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 31: 972–978. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.020.
↑Galovanov, S.E.; Zashigin, V.S. (July 2025). "Structure and evolution of hypsodont molars in the zokors (Myospalacidae, Rodentia) of North Asia during the Plio-Pleistocene". Papers in Palaeontology. 11: e70024. doi:10.1002/spp2.70024.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
↑Zashigin, V.S.; Galovanov, S.E. (January 2026). "Late Miocene/Pliocene divergence of zokors (Myospalacidae, Rodentia) of North Asia: phylogeny and paleobiogeography". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 45 (5): e2607416. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2607416.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
↑Zheng, SH. (2017). "The Zokors of Yushe Basin." In: J. Flynn, L., Wu, WY. (eds) Late Cenozoic Yushe Basin, Shanxi Province, China: Geology and Fossil Mammals. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. doi: 10.1007/978-94-024-1050-1_9
Jansa, S. A. and M. Weksler. 2004. Phylogeny of muroidrodents: relationships within and among major lineages as determined by IRBP gene sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 31:256-276.
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