Naked Mole-Rat: The Wrinkly Rodent That Breaks the Rules of Aging
The naked mole-rat is a nearly hairless rodent from East Africa that lives its whole life underground. It can live more than thirty years in human care, lives in colonies run by a single queen and resists some kinds of pain and cancer. That is why scientists study it closely.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Heterocephalus glaber
- Where: Underground burrows in East Africa
- Lifespan: More than 30 years in captivity
- Colony: One breeding queen; most others are workers
- Famous for: Unusually slow aging and cancer resistance
A Colony Like a Beehive
Naked mole-rats live a little like bees or ants. One queen has the babies, with a few breeding males. Most of the rest of the colony works: digging tunnels, guarding and caring for the young.
How Long Do Naked Mole-Rats Live?
In human care, they can live more than thirty years, far longer than other rodents their size. Even more surprising, in studied captive colonies their risk of dying barely rose as the adults got older. That does not mean they are immortal, and scientists still debate the details.
Built Different
They do not feel some kinds of pain the way we do, including the sting of acid and the burn of capsaicin, the chemical that makes chili peppers hot.
In lab experiments, they survived about eighteen minutes without oxygen. They were unresponsive during that time, then recovered.
They are also remarkably resistant to cancer, though a few cases have been documented, so they are not completely immune.
Why Are They Called Naked Mole-Rats?
They are not moles, and they are not naked in the strict sense. They have a few sensory hairs. But with wrinkly pink skin, tiny eyes and big teeth that sit outside their lips so they can dig without eating dirt, the name stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do naked mole-rats live?
More than thirty years in captivity, which is extremely long for a rodent.
Do naked mole-rats get cancer?
Very rarely. They are remarkably resistant, but not immune.
Do naked mole-rats have a queen?
Yes. Each colony has one breeding queen, and most others are workers.
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The funniest mole-rat on a bookshelf: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (4.9 stars). See it on Amazon
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Sources
- Smithsonian's National Zoo: colony life and biology
- Ruby et al. 2018, eLife: lifespan and mortality risk
- Park et al. 2017, Science: survival without oxygen
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Cover photo: Trisha M Shears via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.