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Tuesday, 14 April 2009 19:29 |
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The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber), also known as the
sand puppy, or desert mole rat is a burrowing rodent native to parts
of East Africa and the only species currently classified in genus
Heterocephalus. 
Typical individuals are 8–10 cm long and weigh 30–35 g. Queens are
larger and may weigh well over 50 g, the largest reaching 80 g.
They are well-adapted for their underground existence.
Their eyes are just narrow slits, and consequently their eyesight is poor.
However, they are highly adapted to moving underground, and can
move backward as fast as they can move forward. Their large,
protruding teeth are used to dig. Their lips are sealed just behind
their teeth while digging to avoid filling their mouths with soil.
Their legs are thin and short. They have little hair
(hence the common name) and wrinkled pink or yellowish skin. 
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