The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Naked Mole Rat Pups Are a First on ZooBorns!

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Here’s a first for the pages of ZooBorns:  A litter of Naked Mole Rats, born December 16 at Hungary’s Zoo Budapest.

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Photo Credit:  Zoo Budapest

Nearly hairless and covered in wrinkly pink skin, Naked Mole Rats are one of only two mammal species known to be eusocial – they live in highly organized societies similar to those of ants, termites, or bees.  The only female in a colony to reproduce is known as the queen, and only a few males breed with her.  The rest of the colony assumes roles as workers.  They obtain food and maintain the complex system of underground tunnels in which the Naked Mole Rats live.

Native to eastern Africa, Naked Mole Rats feed underground on roots and tubers. A single tuber can sustain a colony for months.  Scientists are studying these unique animals because they appear resistant to cancer, live extraordinarily long for a mammal their size – upwards of 30 years – and seem to repress aging. Recent discoveries of natural sugars and proteins produced by Naked Mole Rats, which could aid in human disease research, resulted in the Naked Mole Rat being named “Vertebrate of the Year” by the journal Science in 2013.

3 responses to “Naked Mole Rat Pups Are a First on ZooBorns!”

  1. Susan Riley Avatar
    Susan Riley

    Many years ago the Columbus Zoo (OH/USA) had mole rats on display. Part of their area was narrowed up against the glass – sort of like an ant farm – and the room was darkened. It was fun to see them running through their burrows.
    . . . . . . Question for someone from Zoo Borns: It’s been too many years for me to remember – how long is an adult mole rat?

    Reply
  2. Andrew Bleiman Avatar
    Andrew Bleiman

    A typical adult measures 3 to 4 inches long. Thanks Susan!

    Reply
  3. Chari Mercier Avatar
    Chari Mercier

    Naked mole rats are the cutest and funniest looking animals I have ever seen, and they are fun to watch on the mole rat cam on the National Zoo website. I do know that the National Zoo has a bunch of naked mole rats right now, and their queen mom does give birth to mole rat pups. But, this mom does not know how to take care of them because these tiny babies are left to crawl around over alot of adult mole rats, and according to the mole rat keeper that I talked to a couple of years ago, these babies do not live very long. That’s unfortunate for that mole rat colony at NZ because they have had success raising mole rat babies before in past years. Unfortunately, this queen mom does not have the maternal instinct to take care of all of her kids!
    Chari Mercier 🙁
    St. Pete, FL

    Reply

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