De Winton's golden mole is known from a single location. It occupies the same range as Grant's golden mole and the two may have been confused. However,
phylogenetic evidence indicates that they are different species, based on differences in the skull, the shape of the
malleus and the number of
vertebrae. The type location is
Port Nolloth, and this mole's habitat is coastal sand dunes and nearby sandy areas. Mining for diamonds near Port Nolloth may be a threat to this species. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature now rates this species as "
critically endangered". As with other golden moles, this species is thought to be very difficult to study or physically observe due to its
subterranean nature, although the rarity of
C. wintoni makes it even harder to document, in addition to its close resemblance to other, more common golden moles. De Winton's golden mole was rediscovered in 2023 using data and samples from surveys conducted in 2021, including
environmental DNA, burrow traces, and
sniffer dogs. The findings pointed to a healthy population of De Winton's golden mole in the area. The survey's findings also suggest that the species may be far more widespread than thought, as eDNA evidence was found from Port Nolloth (near the species' original type locality) as far south as
Lambert's Bay. However, it is still thought to be very rare over this distribution, and still under threat from mining. ==References==