Naked Mole Rat – More Than Meets The Eye
### The Remarkable Naked Mole Rat: Nature’s Underground Marvel
The naked mole rat (*Heterocephalus glaber*), a fascinating rodent native to East Africa, has garnered attention not only for its unique physical characteristics but also for its remarkable adaptations to life underground. Typically measuring between 3 to 4 inches in length and weighing about 1.1 to 1.2 ounces, these creatures are easily recognizable by their nearly hairless bodies, which feature a gray-pink skin tone. Their small eyes and poor eyesight are well-suited to their subterranean lifestyle, where they rely more on touch and smell than sight. With short, thin legs, naked mole rats exhibit a unique locomotion that allows them to move both forward and backward with ease, making them efficient diggers in their complex burrowing systems.
Living primarily in the dry tropical grasslands of East Africa—particularly in Somalia, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia—naked mole rats thrive in harsh environments where oxygen levels can be low. Their bodies have evolved to cope with these conditions; they possess small lungs and a blood composition that allows for effective oxygen bonding. This adaptation is particularly crucial during periods of drought and food scarcity, as their metabolic rate can drop to about 25% of its normal level, allowing them to survive on minimal resources. These rodents live in large colonies, often numbering between 20 and 200 individuals, within extensive tunnel systems that can stretch two to three miles long. The social structure of these colonies is complex, typically featuring a queen and several breeding males, while the rest of the colony consists of sterile workers and soldiers who perform various tasks essential to the colony’s survival.
The diet of naked mole rats primarily consists of large tubers, which they unearth during their foraging expeditions. Interestingly, they are known to consume their own fecal matter, a behavior that aids in nutrient absorption. A single tuber can sustain a colony for months or even years, as they only eat the inner part, allowing the tuber to regenerate for future use. Despite their challenging living conditions, naked mole rats are not currently considered a threatened species, as they are widespread across their native habitats. Their unique biological traits have also piqued the interest of scientists, particularly in cancer research, as these remarkable creatures exhibit an extraordinary resistance to the disease, making them a valuable subject of study in understanding cancer prevention and longevity.
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
).
