Naked Mole-Rat
Naked Mole-Rat Facts
| Size | 3-4 inches (8-11 cm) |
| Speed | Unknown |
| Weight | 1-1.2 ounces (30-35 grams) |
| Lifespan | 30-40 years |
| Food | Roots, tubers |
| Predators | Snakes |
| Habitat | East Africa |
| Order | Rodents |
| Family | Mole rats |
| Scientific name | Heterocephalus glaber |
| Characteristics | Small rodent, nearly hairless, long teeth |
Main Characteristics
The naked mole rat is one of the most peculiar animals in the world. It has nearly hairless, wrinkled, pink skin, saber-like teeth, a sausage-shaped body, and tiny eyes. Due to its appearance, it is considered one of the ugliest animals on the planet. It lives underground and is almost blind. Interestingly, it cannot feel pain. Additionally, it chirps and whistles non-stop – even though it is nearly deaf. What a crazy little creature!
Family
Who would have thought: Naked mole rats are not related to moles or rats, but rather to porcupines, chinchillas, and guinea pigs.
Distribution and Habitat
Naked mole rats are found in savannas and grasslands in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. They live underground.
Way of Life
Naked mole rats cannot distinguish between day and night – because they live underground. Therefore, they do not have set times for being active. They are very social and live in colonies that consist of 20-300 individuals. They are organized similarly to ant or bee colonies. Their communal living follows strict rules: there is a queen, a 'harem', workers, and soldiers. Such a community is only found among insects like bees, ants, termites, and wasps.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
A naked mole rat is roughly the size of a mouse – however, it is twice as heavy and its tail is half as long. Its body length is 3-4 inches (7-11 cm) and it weight is 1.-1.2 ounces (30-35 grams)
Hair
Are naked mole rats really hairless? In fact, they are not as "naked" as they appear. Fine hairs grow all over their pink skin – even between their toes. They do not need a thick coat of fur, as they spend almost all their time underground, where it is always nice and warm. They also do not require protection from the sun.
Teeth
Naked mole rats have long, saber-like incisors. They are quite visible, as they are located outside of their mouths. This is beneficial because it allows them to close their lips while digging. This way, no dirt or debris gets into their mouths. Crazy but true: they can move their incisors independently – like chopsticks.
Diet
Naked mole rats are herbivores. They primarily feed on roots and tubers. A single large root can sustain an entire colony for months or even years. They only consume a portion of it, allowing the plant to regenerate. Occasionally, they also eat their own feces. This may sound gross, but it serves a purpose: they absorb the nutrients from the roots and tubers they have eaten but were unable to digest the first time.
Behavior
Underground Birds
Naked mole rats produce 18 different sounds, some of which resemble bird chirps. These sounds assist them in communicating with their fellow species.
Scent Markings
Naked mole rats also use scents for communication. They roll in their feces and spread their scent throughout the burrow. This helps them distinguish family members from strangers.
Defense
While searching for a snack, snakes invade the burrows of naked mole rats. Therefore, the entrances and exits are closely monitored by the soldiers. When a snake approaches, the workers emit an alarm call to warn their companions. They block the entrance with their bodies and present their sharp teeth to the intruder.
Senses and Abilities
How Do Naked Mole Rats Get Air Underground?
There is no fresh air underground. It is very low in oxygen. Additionally, naked mole rats have very small lungs. How do they manage to survive down there? They possess a unique ability: they can efficiently utilize the little available oxygen - meaning they can absorb it into their blood. Furthermore, naked mole rats breathe more slowly, allowing the oxygen to remain in their bodies for a longer time.
Pain Perception
Naked mole rats have an incredible ability: they do not feel pain. This is absolutely unique for a vertebrate. Although they receive pain signals from the affected body part, they do not experience it as something unpleasant. Scientists believe that this trait has developed as an adaptation to their habitat.
Senses
Naked mole rats rely on three senses: their hearing, sense of smell, and sense of touch. These senses are exceptionally well-developed. However, their sense of sight is quite poor. They have tiny eyes and can see very little. But they are not blind! With their small eyes, they simply do not see much. However, this is not necessary underground.
The Colony
Hierarchy and Roles
Naked mole rats form colonies, much like bees and ants do. Within the colony, each animal has a specific role. There is a queen who leads the colony and gives birth to the young. A few males are allowed to mate with her. The rest are soldiers who defend the colony, and workers who gather food, build tunnels, and raise the young. Unlike bees, the workers can be either male or female. The same applies to the soldiers.
The Queen
Naked mole rat queens must fight for their throne and regularly patrol the burrow to defend it by biting and pushing. The females sometimes fight to the death for the right to be queen. Once a queen establishes herself, her body grows larger and longer to maximize the number of young she can bear.
The Burrow
Size and Location
The burrow can be as deep as 6.5 feet (2 meters) and may extend up to 2.4 miles (4 km) long!
Tunnels
The tunnels have a diameter ranging from 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm).
Chambers
The many tunnels lead to various chambers – such as nesting chambers or food storage chambers. There are also toilet chambers.
Temperature
Inside the burrow, the temperature consistently remains at 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), regardless of whether it is warmer or cooler outside.
Life Expectancy
Naked mole rats have an unexpectedly long lifespan: they can live between 30 to 40 years. This is quite remarkable for a rodent. How do they achieve this? It remains a mystery for scientists, as most rodents like mice, rats, and hamsters only live for a few years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
Naked mole rats have few natural enemies since they primarily live underground. They only surface to check the entrances and exits of their burrow, making them easy prey for snakes and birds of prey.
Humans
Naked mole rats inhabit areas that are not of interest for agriculture. This is fortunate for them, as it means their habitat is not at risk.
Reproduction
Mating Season
Underground, naked mole rats experience neither day nor seasonal changes. As a result, they do not have specific mating periods and reproduce four to five times a year.
Strict Rule
Only the queen is allowed to give birth. She typically selects three males to mate with.
Gestation and Birth
After a gestation period of 70 days, 7-11 tiny babies are born. The record is 27 babies! They grow up in a nesting chamber where they are nursed by the queen and cared for by the workers. Within a few weeks, they start exploring the tunnels, and after about 12 months, they reach adulthood.
Fun Facts
Naked Mole-Rat Celebrity
In the Disney series Kim Possible, the clumsy Ron Stoppable has a very special pet: a goofy naked mole rat named Rufus – because his father is allergic to animal fur. Rufus lives in Ron's pocket and loves nachos with cheese sauce.
The Naked Mole-Rat Is Related To:
- Agouti
- Chinchilla
- Guinea Pig
- Porcupine
Animals in the Same Biome:
Sources:
- „Naked Mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) Fact Sheet“ (https://ielc.libguides.com)
- „The effect of diet on microfaunal population and function in the caecum of a subterranean naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber“ (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- „Selective Inflammatory Pain Insensitivity in the African Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)“ (https://journals.plos.org)
- „The naked truth: a comprehensive clarification and classification of current ‘myths’ in naked mole‐rat biology“ (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- „Naked mole rats live for decades – genetic tweaks reveal insights into ageing“ (https://www.nature.com)
- „A cGAS-mediated mechanism in naked mole-rats potentiates DNA repair and delays aging“ (https://www.science.org)
