The Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber), or Sand Puppy, is a very unusual burrowing rodent native to arid parts of East Africa. It is the only species currently classified in genusHeterocephalus.
Naked Mole Rats live underground in a complex system of burrows. They have a complex social structure in which only one or two individuals reproduce. While typical individuals are 8-10cm long and weigh 30-35gm, the reproductive females are larger and may weight over 50gm. This eusocial organisation, similar to that found in ants and bees, is believed to be unique among mammals.
The skin of naked mole rats lacks a key neurotransmitter called Substance P that is responsible in mammals for sending pain signals to the central nervous system. Because of this, when Naked Mole Rats are cut, scraped or burned, they don't feel any pain. When injected with Substance P, however, the pain signalling starts working as it works in other mammals.
