Page 33 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

NAKED MOLE RAT 33

and almost invisible,‘sealed’ ears aren’t unique. Similar oxygen, mouse brains could ‘survive’ for about 3 minutes
adaptations can be found in almost any burrowing only, while the mole rat brain could function for up to
mammal. But, when it comes to surviving beneath the 30 minutes!
thorn tree savannah of east Africa, naked mole rats have Living in such toxic surroundings has had other,
some extra tricks up their sleeves. interesting, side effects too. Naked mole rats have an
These amazing rodents live in narrow tunnels, up to amazingly slow metabolic rate and use very little energy to
1.8m (6ft) below the ground. In such stuffy and poorly stay alive. Most strange of all, though, is that these wrinkly
ventilated conditions, there is little oxygen available and rodents don’t feel chemically induced pain.Acid could be
the air the mole rats breathe is so often so toxic that it split on their skin and they wouldn’t notice! Researchers
would kill other mammals. Mole rats are able to survive have discovered that they lack a common neuro-
and thrive thanks to thousands of years of evolution. transmitter called Substance P. Surprisingly, this brings an
During this time, their lungs have shrunk and their blood advantage: high levels of carbon dioxide build up within
has become especially good at binding oxygen, allowing their burrows, and this is a gas that is acidic. So, because
them to breathe much more efficiently.A study at the they lack Substance P, mole rats are easily able to endure
University of Illinois, Chicago, USA, found that, without the toxic, acidic air of their burrows without discomfort.

An amazing 25 per cent of the mole rat’s musculature is in Some of the most elaborate tunnel systems measure
their jaws, allowing them to cut through compacted earth more than 3km (1.9 miles) long, meaning that mole rats
with ease. must work together.

While one tunneller slices away the earth, others help Digging a tunnel may be easy, but navigating through narrow
to remove the loose soil,which would otherwise block passageways can be a tricky process, especially if someone
the passageway. else wants to get past!

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.