Pain Resistance in Mole-Rats
Naked mole-rats are weird. Native to East Africa, they live underground in highly ordered and hierarchical colonies with a single breeding queen, more like ants or termites than mammals. Some of their most striking physiological adaptations include an extraordinarily long lifespan (30+ years), apparent resistance to cancer, and resistance to extremely low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide.
But it turns out naked mole-rats are not completely alone; they come from a family of weirdos. In my latest Animal Minds post, I discuss what researchers have discovered about pain insensitivity in naked mole-rats and some of their close relatives.
Read the story here: Pain Insensitivity in Mole-Rats.
Workaholic Naked Mole Rats
In the wild, naked mole rats dig a complex tunnel system, complete with chambers for different purposes, covering several hundred meters. It’s hard work, but they accomplish it together. So why do naked mole rats sometimes interfere with the work of their colony mates via a behavior scientists call “tail-tugging?”
Read my latest Animal Minds blog post: Workaholic Naked Mole Rats.