Home / Mammals / Rodents / Naked mole-rat

Some federal rules apply

Naked mole-rat

Heterocephalus glaber

Also known as Sand Puppy

Mammals › Rodents (Rodentia) › Bathyergidae (African mole-rats)

The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), also known as the sand puppy, is a burrowing rodent native to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya, notably in Somali regions.

Pet trade

Experience: Advanced

Naked mole-rat — Photo: Kein keen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Kein keen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

FamilyAfrican mole-rats

Record lifespan31 years

Adult weight35 g

Kept byPet trade

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.

Social	Colony species with a breeding queen and nonbreeding workers; specialist colony management required.	315
Documented captive lifespan	at least: 30 years Documented longevity; not a species maximum.	315
Adult body mass	28–42 g Typical animals; queens and soldiers can be heavier.	315

Care guide

Group care guide

Mole-rats

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Underground burrows. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Tube systems that mimic burrows, kept warm and humid.

Sources 138 139 315 310

Diet

Do not assume root vegetables alone form a complete mole-rat diet. Smithsonian naked mole-rats receive varied produce and primate biscuits; formulate other species separately.

Sources 138 139 315 310

Social life

Use species-specific social housing: colony management for Heterocephalus glaber; individual adult housing for Georychus capensis.

Sources 138 139 315 310

Health watch

Social structure differs by species: naked mole-rats live in colonies, while adult Cape mole-rats are solitary and can fight unfamiliar adults severely.

Sources 138 139 315 310

Understanding the animal

About this animal

It is the only species in the genus Heterocephalus. The naked mole-rat exhibits a highly unusual set of physiological and behavioural traits that allow it to thrive in a harsh underground environment, most notably its being the only mammalian thermoconformer with an almost entirely ectothermic (cold-blooded) form of body temperature regulation, as well as exhibiting eusociality, a complex social structure including a reproductive division of labour, separation of reproductive and non-reproductive castes, and cooperative care of young.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Naked mole-rat” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), also known as the sand puppy, is a burrowing rodent native to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya, notably in Somali regions. It is the only species in the genus Heterocephalus. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Naked mole rats inhabit underground tunnels in grasslands and savannas of eastern Africa. — Animal Diversity Web
Social life and communication	Naked mole rats live underground in no-light environments, rarely using their vision. — Animal Diversity Web
Behavior	Typically, naked mole rats do not follow a circadian rhythm, because the majority of their life is spent underground in darkness. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	Naked mole rats are polyandrous, and very few individuals take part in reproducing. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	Naked mole rats are the longest living rodents, living approximately nine times longer than other species. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	The skin of naked mole rats is brown and pink. — Animal Diversity Web

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 89°F (up to 92°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 62°F (down to 60°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	73–77°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	65–68% on average (driest month about 61%)
Rainfall	about 604 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons

Measured at 41 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported31years

AnAge 16231

Myhrvold et al. 16328.3

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources35g

AnAge 16235

Myhrvold et al. 16335

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Litter size

Average of sources8young

AnAge 1627

Myhrvold et al. 1638.9

Average per litter or clutch.

Gestation

Average of sources70days

AnAge 16270

Myhrvold et al. 16370

Female maturity

Average of sources7.5months

AnAge 1627.5

Myhrvold et al. 1637.5

Veterinary & husbandry research

Breeding and Rearing Naked Mole-Rats (Heterocephalus glaber) under Laboratory Conditions Yu C et al., Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science: JAALAS 2017
Brain Lesions in Aging Zoo-Housed Naked Mole-Rats (Heterocephalus glaber) Ward JM et al., Veterinary pathology 2021
Managed Care of Naked Mole-Rats Smith M et al., Advances in experimental medicine and biology 2021
Alternative Animal Models of Aging Research Holtze S et al., Frontiers in molecular biosciences 2021

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 40 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

Some federal rules apply

CDC African rodent import ban. Importing rodents from Africa has been banned since the 2003 monkeypox outbreak (42 CFR 71.56). FDA lifted its domestic sale and transport restrictions in 2008, so animals already bred in the U.S. can be sold. 183
USDA Animal Welfare Act. Keeping a pet for yourself doesn't need a federal license. Dealers (including many breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen) and exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) generally need a USDA license and inspections; some small-scale breeders and retail sellers are exempt. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Warm-blooded animals not covered elsewhere (Subpart F). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Facilities must be structurally sound and strong enough for the species, with reliable power and water, protected food storage and proper waste disposal. §3.125
Indoors: temperature regulated to protect from extremes, adequate ventilation without drafts, and lighting suited to the species that protects animals from excessive light. §3.126
Outdoors: shade from overheating sun, shelter suited to the local climate, and drainage. Animals must be acclimated before facing climate extremes. §3.127
Outdoor facilities need a perimeter fence at least 8 ft high for potentially dangerous animals (large cats, bears, wolves, rhinoceros, elephants) and 6 ft for others, at least 3 ft from the enclosure, unless USDA approves otherwise. §3.127
Space must allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Poor condition, stress or abnormal behavior can show the space is inadequate. §3.128
Food must be wholesome, palatable and of enough quantity and nutritive value for the species, age and condition, fed at least once a day except during hibernation, normal fasts or veterinary treatment. §3.129
Water must be available as often as needed for health and comfort, in clean receptacles. §3.130
Animals sharing an enclosure must be compatible, and must not be housed near animals that interfere with their health or cause them discomfort. §3.133
There is no general enrichment rule for this subpart; enrichment requirements apply to primates, birds and (exercise) dogs. §3.128

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity

Sources for this sheet

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
42 CFR 71.56: African rodents and other animals that may carry monkeypox (CDC) Zoo, university or veterinaryFederal import ban on African rodents.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of zoo animals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutrition: exotic and zoo animals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Smithsonian National Zoo — Naked mole-rat Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Animal Diversity Web: Georychus capensis Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.