Zambian mole-rat
(Cryptomys anselli)
Facts
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IUCN NEAR THREATENED (NT)
Facts about this animal
The Zambian mole-rat is a rodent of 9-12 cm length and a body-weight of 30-60 g that lives and forages underground, and under natural conditions is rarely, if ever, exposed to light. Its eye is organized as in other rodents and is prominent but minuscule. The animals do not seem to react to light behaviourally or to orient visually.
Zambian mole-rats live in families consisting of a single breeding pair and their non-breeding offspring, who remain with their parents and forage and maintain the burrow system. This eusocial system was first found in the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), but whereas in that species the queen monopolizes breeding through behavioural suppression of her daughters, in Zambian mole-rats, both daughters and sons refrain from mutual mating because of incest avoidance based on continued familiarity with each other. They readily initiate courtship when encountering unfamiliar conspecifics, including their own siblings, however, after separation of 16–18 days.
Zambian mole rats feed on roots, tubers, geophytes, herbs and grasses.
Did you know?
that mole-rats who breed live about twice as long as sexually inactive animals of this species?
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | MAMMALIA |
| Order | RODENTIA |
| Suborder | HYSTRICOMORPHA |
| Family | BATHYERGIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Cryptomys anselli |
| Name (English) | Zambian mole-rat |
| Name (French) | Rat-taupe |
| Name (German) | Ansell's Graumull |
| Name (Spanish) | Ratas topo de Zambia |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Gerhard Schulz
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Small distribution range, centred around the city of Lusaka |
| Habitat | Savannah, lives and forages underground |
| Wild population | Unknown, but decreasing (Red List IUCN 2011) |
| Zoo population | 16 reported to ISIS (2006) |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 81 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Gerhard Schulz
Why do zoos keep this animal
Zambian mole rats are of educational interest because of their extreme adaptation to a subterranean lifestyle and their interesting social system. A lot of research has been and is being done on Zambian mole rats kept under ex situ conditions.
How this animal should be kept
Being social and active animals, mole-rats should be provided with a variety of activities which encourage group participation. This includes the feeding of large tubers, cornhusk, celery and opportunities for them to move small rocks, tear apart clumps of roots and the provisioning of grasses. The grasses should be bundeled so the animals have to open them up in order to create nests. It is recommend to dry and microwave all fresh grass.
Mole-rats get all the water they need from their food supply. No other water source needs be provided.