Naked mole-rat

Naked mole-rat

Heterocephalus glaber

Size: 8–10 cm · 30–80 g
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Sociality: Herd
Lifespan: —

A highly social subterranean rodent of dry East Africa, recognizable by its nearly hairless body and large incisors.

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Key facts

Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a herbivore animal classified as Mammal · Rodentia · Heterocephalidae.
Primary habitats are desert · grassland, with a range across Afrotropical.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is herd, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A highly social subterranean rodent of dry East Africa, recognizable by its nearly hairless body and large incisors.
Builds tunnel systems under dry grassland and semi-desert where soils can be dug and tubers or roots are available.

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

Builds tunnel systems under dry grassland and semi-desert where soils can be dug and tubers or roots are available.

Appearance

Skin is pale pink with little hair and tiny eyes. Large incisors sit outside the lips and are used as digging tools.

Behavior

Colonies center on a queen, with breeding and worker roles. In dark tunnels, animals rely heavily on touch and smell.

Feeding

Underground tubers, roots, and bulbs are eaten. Large tubers may be partly eaten and left to regrow.

Reproduction

Usually only the queen breeds, while workers expand tunnels and help care for young. Its colony structure is close to eusocial for a mammal.

Notes

Globally low-risk; it is also important in research on low-oxygen tolerance, longevity, and cancer resistance.