**Mole Rats** refers to a variety of subterranean rodents found in Africa and the Middle East (e.g., family Bathyergidae, including the famous Naked Mole Rat). They are characterized by their extreme adaptations for a subterranean life: reduced or absent eyes, barrel-shaped bodies, and extremely large, strong teeth or claws used for digging. They are considered **severe agricultural pests** in their native ranges because they feed on and destroy root crops (potatoes, cassava, carrots), causing crop failure and soil upheaval.
Taxonomy and Classification
Mole Rats belong to the class Mammalia, order Rodentia. They are an ecologically diverse group, with some species being solitary and others (*Heterocephalus glaber*, the Naked Mole Rat) exhibiting a complex, eusocial structure similar to bees and ants, with a single breeding queen. They are obligate herbivores, spending their entire lives underground in extensive, complex burrow systems.
Physical Description
Mole Rats vary greatly in size, from 3 to 12 inches long.
- **Appearance (Key ID):** Typically stout and cylindrical. Colors range from brown/gray fur to completely hairless (Naked Mole Rat). Reduced eyes/ears, and prominent incisor teeth (used for digging).
- **Damage Sign (Key ID):**
- **Dirt Mounds:** Characteristic, large, conical dirt mounds (molehills) covering the entrances to the burrow system.
- **Crop Loss:** Entire root and tuber crops are consumed from beneath the ground.
- **Conflict:** Severe agricultural and infrastructural pest.
Distribution and Habitat
Mole Rats are found predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, with some species in the Middle East and southeastern Europe. Their habitat is dry, sandy, or semi-arid grasslands and savannas, where the soil is suitable for tunneling.
Behavior and Conflict
The conflict is major crop destruction and infrastructural damage.
- **Root Crop Consumption:** Their feeding habits make the cultivation of potatoes, peanuts, carrots, and sweet potatoes virtually impossible in heavily infested areas.
- **Soil Upheaval:** Their continuous burrowing disrupts the surface, potentially damaging irrigation systems, roads, and farm equipment.
- **Longevity:** Species like the Naked Mole Rat are extremely long-lived, allowing their colonies to persist and expand for decades.
Management and Prevention
Control is aggressive pest management focused on direct control in the burrow system.
- **Trapping:** Specialized, heavy-duty traps (similar to mole traps) placed directly within the main tunnels are the most common and effective method for individual control.
- In agricultural settings, approved fumigants or toxic baits are often placed deep within the active tunnel systems.
- For small, high-value gardens, physical barriers (wire mesh/hardware cloth) can be buried deep into the soil to exclude them.
Conservation and Research
Mole Rats are managed as severe agricultural pests in parts of their range, but they are also subjects of intense scientific research, particularly the Naked Mole Rat, due to its exceptional longevity, cancer resistance, and eusocial behavior.