You asked for it! Here comes the naked mole rat special

Life is full of difficult decisions. On Thursday you had to decide on a visual image. Would you prefer a photo series about the Lucerne Carnival or a special about naked mole rats?

Your wish is our command: Here are the most charming photos of naked mole rats, peppered with a few interesting facts – so we learned something today too.

Naked mole rats are rodents – relatives of the suborder porcupines – and are particularly at home in the semi-deserts of East Africa, especially Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. They are about 15 centimeters long and weigh about 50 grams. The queens are slightly hotter.

Naked mole rats can live more than 15 years in the wild and even more than 30 years in captivity. For comparison, mice live about 4 years.

They live in extensive underground tunnel systems and dig the tunnels with their long, walrus-like teeth. Naked mole rats mainly eat roots and fibrous plant tubers.

The little rodent not only looks special, it is also very special because: Unlike its relatives, the naked mole rat does not get cancer. Researchers have discovered that naked mole rats have a mechanism that suppresses cell overgrowth. They also feel virtually no pain and can withstand extreme temperatures.

Naked mole rats live in underground colonies with up to 300 animals. They are tightly organized, similar to bees and ants, with a queen having a dominant male at her side. The queen is not born a queen. She is a woman who fought her way to the top. During her reign, she can give birth to as many as a thousand naked mole rat babies.

The mammals live almost their entire lives in the darkness underground. Although they are not completely blind, their eyes are very small and naked mole rats often close them completely when walking through the tunnels.

Thanks for your attention. If you know another fact, please post it in the comments.

(sim)