Frequently Asked Questions about
Naked Mole-Rats
Where do naked mole-rats live?
Naked mole-rats are found in the semi-arid grassy regions of Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia).
But where do they live?
Naked mole-rats live in underground tunnels. Some tunnel systems can be more than three kilometers long!
How big are naked mole-rats?
Naked mole-rats are about seven centimeters (3 inches) long and weigh 30 to 70 grams (1 to 2.4 ounces).
Why are they called “naked”?
They have very little hair, just a few hairs on their feet, some whiskers, and a little hair in their mouths.
Why do they have hair in their mouths?
Naked mole-rats dig with their teeth. The hair probably helps keep their mouths clean.
They dig with their teeth?
Sure do. Twenty-five percent of their musculature is in their jaws.
Their powerful incisors extend outside their lips.
Some people think they look like hot dogs with teeth!
Why don't they have much hair?
The underground tunnels they live in have a fairly constant temperature and humidity.
If naked mole-rats need to get warm, they huddle together.
They don't have to waste energy growing hair. Lack of hair also greatly reduces their parasite load.
Naked mole-rats are the only known mammal to be completely eusocial. That is, they live like social insects in large colonies.
How big are the colonies?
Colonies can have as many as 300 or as few as 20 individuals.
What is their social structure like?
Only one female in the colony, the queen, gives birth to young.
She can give birth to up to 27 pups every 70 to 80 days.
One to three males in each colony breed with the queen.
What does everyone else do?
All the other males and females are either workers or soldiers.
Workers search for food and help build nests for the queen.
Soldiers are larger than workers and remove dirt from the tunnels
and defend the colony against predators.
What predators?
Mostly the rufous-beaked snake.
If a snake tries to enter a tunnel, the soldiers block it with dirt.
If they can't block it quickly, a soldier will sacrifice itself
by letting the snake eat her or him.
Does the queen look different?
Yes, she is larger, her nipples are visible,
and her spine is curved so she can accommodate
all those fetal pups.
What do naked mole-rats eat?
In the wild, they eat tubers that they dig
into from their tunnels.
Some of the tubers can grow to 100 pounds!
What do naked mole-rats eat at the Zoo?
We feed them corn, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples,
kale, green beans, celery, and animal biscuits.
How many naked mole-rats do you have at the National Zoo?
We have three colonies containing about 65 animals in all.
Can naked mole-rats see?
Not much. Though their eyes open and close, they are
almost totally blind.
How long have people known about naked mole-rats?
Since at least the middle of the 1800s.
But scientists started studying
their social structure only about 25 years ago.
Can I have a naked mole-rat as a pet?
Naked mole-rats cannot be kept as pets. They must live in large colonies, and they have fairly strict temperature and humidity requirements. They are high-maintenance animals and can live from ten to 30 years. Removing them from the wild in Africa is expensive, risky, and disruptive to the habitats of naked mole-rats and other animals.
Naked mole-rats are kept and bred in highly controlled enclosures in some universities and zoos. Under no circumstances should they be kept as pets.
As a matter of fact, it's not a good idea to keep any exotic animal as a pet. There are many excellent domesticated animals that make wonderful pets and companions. Many are in need of caring homes. Please think about those already domesticated animals when you plan on a pet. 
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Do I have naked mole-rats in my yard?
Naked mole-rats are rodents that live underground in eastern Africa. All other species of mole-rats live in Africa and the Middle East. Mole-rats are not considered pests. If you have moles
(which are insectivores, not rodents) in your yard, you might wish to consult a plant specialist.
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