Have You Herd About Naked Mole Rats?

Get ready to go streaking because it’s naked mole rate time!

Naked mole-rats have wrinkly pink or grayish-pink skin, which is somewhat translucent on their undersides and light purplish-brown on their backs and tails. This countershading appears to be lost with advanced age. They have short, broad heads with powerful jaw muscles and very large incisors, which they use to dig tunnels. Naked mole-rats are usually 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) long and weigh 1-1.5 ounces (28-42 grams). However, soldiers can weigh up to 2 ounces (57 grams), and the queen, who is the largest member of the colony, can weigh up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams). Naked mole-rats are found in eastern Africa, specifically in Ethiopia, Kenya, Dijbouti and Somalia. They live exclusively in underground burrows and tunnels in grassy, semi-arid regions. They have no external ears and they have tiny eyes, which make them virtually blind. Their sense of smell is important, and they are also very sensitive to vibrations in the ground and the movement of air currents.