Common mole-rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common mole-rat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Bathyergidae |
| Genus: | Cryptomys |
| Species: |
C. hottentotus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cryptomys hottentotus (Lesson, 1826)
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The common mole-rat (also known as the African mole-rat or Hottentot mole-rat) is a small animal that lives underground. Its scientific name is Cryptomys hottentotus. You can find these burrowing rodents in Southern Africa. They are especially common in the Western Cape province of South Africa. They also live in countries like Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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What is a Common Mole-Rat?
Common mole-rats are part of a group of animals called Bathyerginae. A scientist named René Primevère Lesson first described them in 1826. He found one near a place called Paarl. Over time, scientists gave them different names. But now, they are all known as Cryptomys hottentotus.
How Do Common Mole-Rats Look?
Common mole-rats are usually between 10.5 and 16.5 centimeters long. Their tail is short, about 1.2 to 3.8 centimeters. They have thick fur that is usually grey or brown. Some mole-rats even have a white spot on their head.
Their body is shaped like a cylinder, which helps them move in tunnels. They have short legs and strong, chisel-like front teeth. These teeth are perfect for digging through soil. They also use their teeth for eating and even for fighting.
How Do Mole-Rats Have Babies?
Common mole-rats live in family groups, like a small colony. In each group, usually only the largest female and male have babies. They start mating around September and October. Babies are born during the southern hemisphere summer. A mother can have one or two litters of pups. Each litter can have up to five babies.
A baby mole-rat grows inside its mother for about 81 days. They become old enough to have their own babies when they are about 450 days old.
Where Do Common Mole-Rats Live?
Common mole-rats are fossorial animals. This means they live almost entirely underground. They can live in many different types of soil. They are herbivorous, which means they eat plants. Their main foods are plants with underground storage parts and grass roots.
These mole-rats are found in many places. They dig tunnels that help them find food, especially their favorite underground plants. Their digging can sometimes damage human property. But it also helps the soil by improving drainage and mixing it up.
How Do Mole-Rats Stay Warm?
Common mole-rats are endothermic. This means they can make their own body heat. They keep their body temperature warmer than the air around them. In dry places, they are often smaller. Being smaller helps them need less food. It also helps them save energy.
They also have long, sensitive hairs called vibrissae. These hairs stick out from their fur. They are on their body and back legs. These hairs help them feel their way around in the dark tunnels.
How Do Mole-Rats Behave?
Common mole-rats live in family groups. A group can have up to 14 individuals. They are very social animals. This means that different mole-rats in the family have special jobs. Some are responsible for having babies. Others help take care of the young.
Younger mole-rats often act as "workers." They do most of the digging and finding food. Older mole-rats might be "casual workers," meaning they don't work as much. The oldest mole-rats in the group are usually the ones that breed.
How Do Mole-Rats Tunnel?
Mole-rats have bodies that are perfect for living in tunnels. Their bodies are cylindrical, and their legs are short. Their skin is loose, and their fur is thick. This helps them move easily in tight spaces. They can even do a somersault inside their loose skin!
They have hairy cheeks that can close behind their front teeth. This keeps dirt out of their throat while they dig. To dig, they loosen soil with their strong front teeth. Then, they use their feet to push the loose soil backward. Once they have a pile of dirt, they turn around. Then they push the soil out of the tunnel entrance.
Are Common Mole-Rats Safe?
The IUCN Red List says the common mole-rat is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not in danger of disappearing. They have many mole-rats living in many places. They can also live in farm fields and gardens. Because of this, their future looks good!
 | Valerie Thomas |
 | Frederick McKinley Jones |
 | George Edward Alcorn Jr. |
 | Thomas Mensah |
