The specific epithet graecus, as well as the reference to the Balkans in its former scientific name, both derive from the type specimen, which was initially thought to have been collected in the vicinity of Athens, Greece.

However, a 2013 morphological and phylogenetic analysis found antiquus and istricus to represent distinct species from graecus.

The American Society of Mammalogists and IUCN Red List followed the results of this study.

[4] This species is found in a small area of northeastern Romania, southwestern Ukraine, and northwestern Moldova.

[1] This species is thought to be threatened by intensive agriculture, which has been implicated in the decline of the sympatric lesser blind mole-rat (Nannospalax leucodon) in the same region.