DAMARALAND MOLE-RAT (Cryptomys damarensis): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
NAKED MOLE-RAT (Heterocephalus glaber): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
African mole-rats are found in sub-Saharan Africa.
DIET
They eat bulbs, tubers, and corms, the underground stem base of plants such as the crocus or gladiolus. Food is either eaten when it is found or brought back to a central storage area near the nest. Large food sources are often left to grow, and eaten on from time to time.
AFRICAN MOLE-RATS AND PEOPLE
African mole-rats are considered pests in farmlands and in urban developments. Their burrows often damage roads, airport runways, and other such structures. They can also chew through underground cables, irrigation pipes, and other human-made objects.
CONSERVATION STATUS
One species of African mole-rat is listed as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, and six species are listed as Data Deficient, meaning there is not enough information available to decide their status.
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