Naked Mole Rat
Living in families of up to 300 individuals, naked mole rats are ruled by a queen, while the rest serve as workers that dig tunnels and gather food. Their colony structure is highly unusual for mammals, resembling that of social insects like ants. The queen is significantly larger than the others, physically expanding the space between her vertebrae when she assumes the role. To maintain her dominance, she is highly aggressive towards other females, preventing them from becoming a queen. If she dies or is removed, rival females may engage in fierce battles to take her place.
Despite their name, naked mole rats are not actually moles or rats. They are more closely related to porcupines, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. These wrinkly, nearly hairless rodents have pink or greyish-pink skin, short, broad heads, and powerful jaw muscles. Their large incisors, which are used for digging, sit in front of their lips, preventing dirt from getting into their mouths while tunnelling.
Diet
Naked mole rats are herbivorous and rely entirely on underground plants for sustenance. They feed on roots, bulbs, corms, and tubers, especially those found in arid regions. Since they never surface to search for food, they must burrow continuously to locate new food sources. To maximise nutrition, they often re-ingest their own faeces, allowing them to extract every possible nutrient from their plant-based diet.
FUN FACT
They do not drink water, getting all their hydration from their diet. Unlike most mammals, they regulate their body temperature by huddling together for warmth or basking in shallow tunnels heated by the sun. Their tiny eyes make them almost blind, so they rely on their sense of smell, air currents, and ground vibrations to navigate their environment. While they appear completely bald, they actually have about 100 fine hairs on their bodies that act like whiskers to help them sense their surroundings. Even the spaces between their toes have specialised hairs that aid in sweeping soil behind them as they dig!
HABITAT
Naked mole rats are found in eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia. They live exclusively underground in dry grasslands and semi-arid regions, creating extensive burrow systems. These tunnels contain specialised chambers for different purposes, such as nesting areas for the queen and pups, food storage chambers, and even a designated toilet chamber to keep the colony organised and hygienic.
LIFE SPAN
Naked mole rats are the longest-living rodents in the world, with a lifespan of up to 32 years!
Adopt a Naked Mole Rat
Long live the Queen! The Naked Mole Rat lives in an underground colony ruled by one powerful queen. The Hero Package helps provide fresh food, burrow maintenance, and everything this colony needs to thrive. Adopt a Naked Mole Rat today and support their underground empire!
Please note that this animal is currently not available for a mini encounter.
Should you select the Hero package, we will provide you with a list of options of other animals to meet!
Please note that this animal is currently not available for a mini encounter.
Should you select the Hero package, we will provide you with a list of options of other animals to meet!
