Naked Mole Rat – More Than Meets The Eye
The naked mole rat (*Heterocephalus glaber*), a fascinating rodent native to East Africa, has garnered significant interest due to its unique adaptations and social structure. Measuring between 3 to 4 inches in length and weighing about 1.1 to 1.2 ounces, these remarkable creatures have evolved to thrive in harsh underground environments. Their small eyes and minimal fur, which gives them their “naked” moniker, are just a few of the characteristics that enable them to navigate the dry tropical grasslands of Somalia, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia. Living in colonies that can range from 20 to 200 individuals, naked mole rats create extensive burrowing systems that can stretch up to three miles long, showcasing their remarkable engineering skills.
One of the most intriguing aspects of naked mole rat life is their complex social hierarchy. Within a colony, there is typically one queen and a few breeding males, while the rest of the colony consists of sterile worker rats. This division of labor includes specialized roles, such as tunnel diggers and soldiers, highlighting their cooperative lifestyle. The queen, who can live for 13 to 18 years, is fiercely protective and will eliminate any rival females that threaten her position. This social structure is not only essential for the survival of the colony but also plays a role in their reproductive success, as the queen maintains a long-term bond with her breeding males.
In terms of diet, naked mole rats primarily feast on large tubers they discover during their foraging expeditions underground. Interestingly, they exhibit a unique behavior of consuming their own fecal matter, which allows them to extract additional nutrients. This dietary strategy is crucial for their survival in their arid habitat, as a single tuber can sustain a colony for months or even years. Furthermore, naked mole rats are of particular interest to scientists due to their remarkable resistance to cancer, making them valuable subjects in medical research. Despite their challenging living conditions, these resilient rodents are not currently threatened and continue to thrive in their natural habitats, exemplifying the wonders of evolution and adaptation in the animal kingdom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5DcOEzW1wA
The
naked mole rat
(
Heterocephalus glaber
) is a
rodent
, known for its burrowing and is indigenous to East Africa. The mole rat possesses a number of characteristics which allow it to survive in underground and harsh environments.
The average naked mole rat is between 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 centimeters) in length and weighs between 1.1 and 1.2 ounces (30 to 35 grams). They have small eyes, poor sight, and have legs that are quite short and thin. They are also able to move backward and forward at the same quick pace and have large teeth that allow them to dip. The term “naked” comes from the fact that they have very little hair and gray-pink skin.
The species is highly adapted to situations in which oxygen is limited within tunnels of their habitat. The lungs are small and their blood is greatly able to bond oxygen. They have very low metabolic and respiration rates. During periods of drought and hunger, the metabolic can decrease further to about 25% of its normal level.
The naked mole rat lives predominantly in the dry tropical grasslands in East Africa with large concentrations being concentrated in Somalia, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia. Groups of around 80 individual mole rats (although it can be as few as 20 and as many as 200) live within a complex burrowing system within the African desert. These tunnel systems can be quite long, between two to three miles in length.
There is a complex hierarchical structure where one queen and between 1 and 3 males reproduce, the other naked mole rats are workers and sterile. Dimorphism exists between the males, two forms of workers (tunnel digging/gathering and soldiers), and the breeding males. The breeding males and the queen can keep up their relationship for several years. The queens can live for a period of between 13 and 18 years and are quite hostile towards other females. Upon the death of the queen, another female will become queen in her place.
The naked mole rat mostly eats large tubers that they find underground during their mining exhibitions. However, they are also known for eating their own fecal matter. One tuber, depending upon its size, can feed a colony for several months or years as they only eat the inside of the tuber. They leave the outer parts so that the tuber is able to regenerate.
Naked mole rats are currently not a threatened species. Although their living conditions are tough, they are a widespread species.
Naked mole rats help in cancer research, because they never get cancer (
read here
).
