The naked mole‑rat (Heterocephalus glaber) belongs to the order Rodentia and the family Bathyergidae, a group of African mole‑rats adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. It inhabits the Horn of Africa, with confirmed populations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. These rodents occupy arid savanna grasslands and semi‑desert regions where they construct extensive tunnel systems up to 2.5 m deep. Their skin lacks fur and pigment, giving them a pink, wrinkled appearance, while their incisors protrude outside the mouth, allowing them to dig without soil entering the oral cavity. Naked mole‑rats are ectothermic, maintaining body temperature through the colony’s burrow microclimate rather than internal thermoregulation. They are one of the few eusocial mammals, displaying a caste system similar to insects. The IUCN classifies the species as Least Concern due to its wide distribution and stable overall population, although localized threats exist. Their unique physiology, including resistance to cancer and insensitivity to certain types of pain, makes them valuable model organisms for biomedical research.

Naked mole‑rats live in colonies ranging from 20 to over 300 individuals, organized into a strict caste hierarchy. A single breeding female, the queen, monopolizes reproduction, while non‑breeding workers perform all colony maintenance tasks such as tunnel excavation, foraging, and nest building. A small subset of larger individuals serve as soldiers, defending the colony against predators like snakes and mongooses. The colony is highly cooperative; individuals share food through a system of trophallaxis, passing chewed tuber material mouth‑to‑mouth. Activity occurs almost exclusively underground, with workers venturing only a few centimeters above the tunnel surface. Communication relies on a rich repertoire of vocalizations—high‑frequency chirps, alarm calls, and contact calls—supplemented by pheromonal cues that regulate reproductive status and colony cohesion. Territories are defined by the extent of the tunnel network, which can cover several hundred square meters, and are defended by scent marking and aggressive displays.

Naked mole‑rats are primarily herbivorous, feeding on underground plant parts such as tubers, rhizomes, roots, and bulbs. Their diet is low in water content, and they obtain most of their hydration from the moisture in these foods, allowing them to survive in arid environments with minimal surface water. Occasionally, they consume small invertebrates like insects and larvae, supplementing protein intake. Foraging is conducted by worker individuals who extend tunnel branches to locate food sources, then chew and transport the material back to the nest chambers. Their incisors, which protrude beyond the lips, enable them to gnaw through tough plant tissue without ingesting soil. An adult colony can consume up to 10 % of its body weight in food daily, and food stores are hoarded in specialized chambers to buffer against seasonal scarcity. Their low metabolic rate and efficient nitrogen recycling reduce the need for high‑protein diets, a trait linked to their longevity and cancer resistance.

Sexual maturity in naked mole‑rats is reached at about 6–8 months for both sexes, but only the queen reproduces. She suppresses ovulation in subordinate females through aggressive behavior and pheromonal signals, ensuring a single‑breeder system. The gestation period lasts approximately 70 days, after which the queen gives birth to a litter of 1–12 pups, with an average of three. Newborns are altricial, hairless, and blind, relying entirely on the workers for warmth, grooming, and feeding. Pups are weaned at around 30 days and remain in the colony as helpers for several months before attaining reproductive potential. In the rare event that the queen dies, a high‑ranking female may assume the breeding role after a brief period of hormonal re‑adjustment. Colonies can persist for decades, with the queen often remaining fertile for up to 10 years, contributing to the species’ unusually long lifespan for a rodent.

The IUCN lists the naked mole‑rat as Least Concern, reflecting its broad distribution and stable global population. However, localized threats persist. Agricultural expansion converts native savanna and grassland habitats into cropland, reducing the availability of suitable soil for burrow construction. Pesticide and herbicide use can contaminate food sources and directly affect colony health. Climate change poses a risk by altering precipitation patterns, potentially increasing soil hardness and limiting the growth of tuberous plants. Mining activities in East Africa also fragment habitats and introduce heavy metal contamination. While these pressures have not yet caused a significant decline, they could lead to population fragmentation and reduced genetic diversity if unmitigated. Conservation actions focus on habitat preservation, monitoring of colony health, and research into the species’ ecological role to inform land‑use planning.

• Naked mole‑rats are the only known eusocial mammals, living in colonies with a single breeding queen.
• They lack a functional pain response to acidic and capsaicin stimuli, making them a model for pain research.
• Their low body temperature (≈30 °C) and high resistance to cancer are linked to unique cellular mechanisms.
• They can survive in oxygen‑poor environments by switching to anaerobic metabolism, tolerating up to 5 % oxygen.
• Their incisors grow continuously and are used for digging without soil entering the mouth.