Naked Mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) — Least Concern Mammalia

Naked Mole-rat

Heterocephalus glaber

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Rodentia · Bathyergidae

About

The naked mole-rat, also known as the sand puppy, is a burrowing rodent native to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya, notably in Somali regions. It is closely related to the blesmols and is the only species in the genus Heterocephalus.

Fun Fact

Naked mole-rats are virtually cancer-immune, feel almost no pain in their skin, can survive 18 minutes without oxygen, and live up to 30 years — ten times longer than similar-sized rodents.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Underground burrows in arid grasslands

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

25-30 years

Threats

Agricultural Conversion
Overgrazing

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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