Are mole-rats really blind?

Spalacinae mole-rats are truly blind. Their very small eyes are completely covered by a layer of skin. Unlike many other fossorial rodents, blind mole-rats do not have enlarged front claws and do not appear to use their forearms as a primary digging tool.

What do mole-rats look like?

Naked mole-rat News. 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.

How big is a blind mole rat?

5.1 to 13.8 inches
Blind mole rats are medium-sized, weighing 100 to 570 grams (3.5 ounces to 1.3 pounds), with bodies about 13 to 35 cm (5.1 to 13.8 inches) long. The dense, soft fur may be pale to reddish brown or buff gray on the upperparts; underparts are grayish or buff brown.

Are mole-rats rats or moles?

But even if you’ve been one of those fans, I’ll bet there’s plenty you still don’t know, so here are 14 fun facts: 1 ) Despite their names, naked mole rats are neither moles nor rats (nor are they totally hairless). They are more closely related to porcupines and guinea pigs.

Are naked mole-rats good pets?

Naked mole rats really should not be kept as pets. Though they are very tough animals, they need a great deal of space and would need to be kept in some kind of climate-controlled habitat where they can dig very deep and have access to certain kinds of food.

Can mole-rats help extend life?

Because, they postulate, the lower body temperature and slower metabolism could significantly extend mouse longevity, based on the observation that metabolically slow naked mole-rats live eight times longer than similar rodents.

What’s the difference between a mole and a mole rat?

Mole vs Mouse: Appearance You can tell the difference between a mole vs mouse just by looking at them. Mice are well known for their long and skinny tails, while moles do not have tails. Moles are covered in a soft and satiny dark fur, and mice are found in many more colors comparatively.

Where do mole rats live?

Naked mole rats live underground in the dry, arid regions of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. These unique animals are rodents, but they are more closely related to porcupines and guinea pigs than they are to either moles or rats.

What do blind mole rats eat?

Mole-rats eat the underground parts of plants. They typically only consume part of a root or tuber, leaving enough behind for it to survive and provide another meal.

Where do mole-rats live?

What’s the difference between a mole and a mole-rat?

What do naked mole-rats drink?

Naked mole-rats don’t drink water. They typically only consume part of a root or tuber, leaving enough behind for it to survive and provide another meal.