Naked Mole Rats: The Only Cold-Blooded Mammal on the Planet.

According to ТСН: Among thousands of mammals, only one species has decided to give up warm-bloodedness to feel comfortable underground. These unusual creatures — naked mole rats — live in colonies, similar to ant hills, and possess unique abilities. The naked mole rat is a biological puzzle that combines features of rodents, insects, and reptiles.

Mammals are vertebrate animals usually characterized by the presence of mammary glands, hair or fur, giving birth to live young, and the ability to maintain a constant body temperature. However, these traits are not absolute. For example, the platypus lays eggs but feeds its offspring with milk.

Throughout evolution on Earth, many unusual mammals have emerged, and today we can observe one of them, which has certain characteristics of a 'cold-blooded' animal. This refers to Heterocephalus glaber, known as the naked mole rat. This rodent has several amazing adaptations to its underground lifestyle.

Information about Naked Mole Rats

These almost hairless rodents from East Africa form large colonies — sometimes up to 300 individuals — and demonstrate complex social organization. They are eusocial animals, where each community member performs a specific role.

“Within each colony, reproduction is limited to one female and 1 – 3 males; all other colony members are reproductively suppressed and socially subordinate unless they are removed from the influence of colonial signals.”

“Due to the pronounced reproductive inequality, naked mole rats are often considered eusocial mammals. This is supported by behavioral specializations and certain morphological differences between reproductive and non-reproductive colony members. Importantly, naked mole rats display behavioral plasticity...”

However, this model should not be idealized.

Reproductive Strategy and Social Organization

“The reproductive strategy and social organization of naked mole rats resemble some species of insects more than mammals. Like some species of bees or ants, naked mole rats are eusocial: they live in groups of up to a hundred individuals, led by a single reproductive female — the queen. However, while insects manage the colony using pheromones, the queen of naked mole rats uses physical aggression...”

Resistance to Cancer

These animals not only have an interesting social structure but also exhibit a high resistance to cancer. They do not respond to certain chemical irritants, including capsaicin and acids. Their underground lifestyle and specific diet allow them to live in a stable temperature environment.

Body Temperature Regulation

“These eusocial rodents also collectively regulate body temperature. ... It changes with the ambient temperature, making naked mole rats practically cold-blooded.”

“By huddling together tightly, they slow down heat loss. They also behaviorally regulate temperature — when needed, they warm up in shallow surface tunnels that the Sun heats.”

Although naked mole rats exhibit ectothermic traits, calling them cold-blooded is not entirely accurate.

“...Naked mole rats are capable of initiating non-shivering thermogenesis and raising body temperature, but they cannot maintain it due to excessive heat loss ...”

The use of artificial insulation partially restores the animals' ability for homeothermy. This indicates that the main issue for naked mole rats is not a lack of heat but its rapid loss.

Thus, these animals regulate body temperature similar to cold-blooded ones, relying on external heat sources. They are a unique example that does not fit neatly into simple biological categories, despite belonging to mammals.

In conclusion, it is worth adding that despite their remarkable social organization and physical adaptations, naked mole rats remain largely unknown to the general public. Their features and abilities pique the interest not only of scientists but also of anyone eager to learn more about the amazing world of nature.