Heterocephalus glaber
MAMMAL
Order Rodentia

Description
Length from nose to tail: 3.25 inches. Tail length: 1.5 inches. Weight: 1-2 ounces. The queen may weigh as much as 3 ounces. The animal appears to be naked at first glance, but a few pale-colored hairs are scattered about the head and tail. There are prominent whiskers and a fringe of fine hair is present along the edges of the feet. Has no sweat glands or a subcutaneous fat layer like other mammals, which is why the skin is so wrinkly. Color: skin is pinkish or yellowish in color. Short, broad head, minute eyes, no external ears, and very prominent incisor teeth.

Range
Africa (central and eastern Ethiopia, central Somalia and Kenya).

Status
Not protected in international trade.

Habitat
Found only in arid conditions. Live in an extensive and complex burrow system.

Niche
Herbivorous: feeds mainly on roots, tubers and corms (underground stem base bearing scaly or membranous leaves). Preyed upon by burrowing reptiles.

Life History
Only known mammal that lives in a eusocial (truly social) system consisting of 20-300 individuals. Similiar to that of bees, wasps, ants and termites. Divided into classes of hierarchy amongst the groups. One dominant breeding female and 1-3 dominant breeding males. With them are 2-3 other non-working rats (soldiers) to take care of them and protect the colony when needed. The rest are workers that dig the tunnels and find food. They have up to 5 litters in a year that consist of 1-27 young. Newborns are blind and naked. The young are weaned in 1-2 months and join the workers in the colony. Life span 15-20 years in captivity.