Page 30 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

30 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

Naked Mole Rat

There’s more to the naked mole rat than meets the eye.Their hairless bodies

make them look extremely odd, but it’s only once you get to know the habits
of these rodents of east African that you realize just how curious these
creatures really are.

Key Facts ORDER Rodentia / FAMILY Bathyergidae /
GENUS & SPECIES Heterocephalus glaber

Weight 30–35g (1–1.2oz)
Queens: up to 80g (2.8oz)
Length 10–13cm (3.9–5.1in) including tail

Sexual maturity Only dominant female breeds
Breeding season All year
Number of young 12–24

Gestation period 66–74 days
Breeding interval Up to 4 litters a year
Typical diet Roots and vegetation
Lifespan Up to 30 years in the wild

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.