Naked Mole Rat

Naked Mole-Rat

The Naked Mole-Rat (Heteroephalus glaber) also known as the Sand Puppy, is a rodent that typically burrows. Despite the name, they are neither moles, or rats. They are more closely related to porcupines and guinea pigs.

They are found in parts of Eastern Africa and has a rather unusual set of physical characteristics that give it the ability to thrive in a harsh underground environment.

It is almost completely cold blooded, has no pain sensitivity in its skin, has a very low metabolism, as well as low respiration. And they are of course, ‘naked’, with very little hair.

Naked mole-rats are generally quite small in size. The male mole-rat is between 3 and 4-inches long and will weigh between 1.1 and 1.2-ounces. The females (called queens) are larger and can weigh as much as 1.8-ounces with the largest recorded at approx. 2.8-ounces.

The eyes of the naked mole-rat are very small, and this contributes to their poor vision – but they are not blind as is often assumed, and can burrow with eyes closed.

They have thin and short legs, but easily move underground. They are expert burrowers and amazingly can travel as fast backwards as they can forwards.

They have large protruding front teeth like a miniature walrus that are used to dig with their lips sealed just behind the teeth, which prevent dirt and debris from entering their mouths.

Naked Mole-Rats eat the underground parts of plants, which means their diet mainly consists of roots or tuber – leaving enough behind for it to survive so they can feed on it again for another meal.

They have very little in the way of hair. This is why they are called ‘naked’ and their skin is a wrinkled pink or yellowish color. They do not have an insulating layer under their skin.

Interesting Naked Mole-Rat Facts

1. The Naked Mole-Rat can live in a zero oxygen atmosphere.

Research has revealed that this burrowing rodent can live up to five hours in a setting that has just 5-percent oxygen. It can also live in an atmosphere of 80-percent CO2. In a zero oxygen environment, the Naked Mole-Rat can live for up to 18-minutes without suffering any harm.

The scientific study provided evidence naked mole-rats go into a low energy state and switch to a kind of oxygen-free metabolism that relied on fructose, rather than glucose. 

2. The two lower front incisors of a Naked Mole-Rat can be moved independently & voluntarily of each other.

Their teeth are used for everything from digging, carrying, eating, fighting, and grooming to transporting the young. The independent movement of the lower incisors is comparable to the movement of fingers, or chop-sticks.