# Naked Molerat (*Heterocephalus glaber*) Naked mole rats are unique little creatures that live underground. They have very little fur and can be quite funny to watch as they dig and explore their tunnels. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Naked Molerat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nacktmull.jpg&width=800) Photo: Roman Klementschitz , Wien, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nacktmull.jpg) ## Appearance The Naked Molerat is a unique rodent with wrinkled, pinkish-yellow skin and almost no fur. It has tiny eyes and prominent, outward-pointing front teeth, making it look quite distinctive among other rodents with its sausage-like body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Bathyergidae - **Genus:** Heterocephalus ## Interesting facts - Naked Molerats can run backwards just as fast as forwards! - Their front teeth move separately, like chopsticks for digging! - These rodents live like ants or bees, with a queen! - They don't feel acid pain, thanks to special nerve cells! ## Special abilities - **Oxygen Stopper:** Naked Molerat can endure extreme low-oxygen environments thanks to unique metabolic adaptations. - **Pain Blocker:** Naked Molerat has special nerves that make it immune to acid burns and some types of pain. - **Cancer Shield:** Naked Molerat can resist cancer due to unique cellular repair mechanisms and special proteins. - **Tunnel Master:** Naked Molerat can dig extensive tunnel systems using its powerful teeth and strong front claws. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-15 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 25-32 years - **Speed:** 0.2 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-28 - **Gestation:** 66-74 days ## Diet & Feeding They mostly munch on underground plant parts like roots and tubers! - **Primary Foods:** tubers, roots, rhizomes, bulbs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Black-necked Spitting Cobra (*Naja nigricollis*) — Snakes hunt them in underground tunnels. - **Eaten by:** [Honey Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honey-badger) (*Mellivora capensis*) — Honey badgers are strong diggers that prey on them. - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — Eagles may catch them if they surface from burrows. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Naked mole rats are not pets, so it's best to look at them in a zoo or nature center. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Naked Molerat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Naked Molerat? 8-15 cm ### How much does Naked Molerat weigh? 0.03-0.08 kg ### How long does Naked Molerat live? 25-32 years ### How fast can Naked Molerat move? 0.2 km/h ### What does Naked Molerat eat? They mostly munch on underground plant parts like roots and tubers! ### Where is Naked Molerat usually found? Grasslands ### How does Naked Molerat hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Seneca Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seneca-park-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Zoo Osnabrück](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-osnabruck) — Niedersachsen, DE · Zoo - [Henson Robinson Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/henson-robinson-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo [View all places to see Naked Molerat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/naked-molerat) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Naked Molerat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/naked-molerat)