The naked mole-rat is a small, wrinkly, almost hairless rodent that lives underground in East Africa. It is one of only a few mammals with a social system like that of bees, and its long life and resistance to cancer make it a subject of medical research.
Interesting facts
- They live in colonies like bees or ants, with a single breeding queen.
- In experiments, they survived 18 minutes without oxygen by switching to a different way of producing energy.
- They are almost insensitive to some kinds of pain, such as acid burns.
- Their lips close behind their teeth, so they can dig without swallowing soil.
- Colonies usually have about 70–80 members, sometimes up to 300.
- They cannot regulate their body temperature well, so they huddle together to keep warm.
Behaviour
Colonies dig vast tunnel systems, sometimes several kilometres long, to find roots and tubers. Workers dig in chains, passing soil backwards. Larger individuals defend the colony against snakes and intruders.
Breeding and young
Only the queen breeds, with one to three males. She can produce litters of over 20 pups several times a year. Other females do not breed while the queen lives.
Threats and conservation
The species is not threatened. It is well protected by its underground life, but depends on intact arid habitats.
Where to see it
- Almost never seen in the wild, as they live underground
- Volcano-like mounds of soil in dry parts of Kenya reveal their tunnels
- Many zoos display colonies in see-through tunnels
- Research centres in Kenya and elsewhere study them
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
