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Twelve naked mole rats are now calling Riverbanks home. The colony arrived early last week from the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. They are a different species than the Damaraland mole rats that arrived last spring. While the Damaraland mole rats appear “fully clothed,” complete with a striking tan and cream colored coat, the new mole rats look just like their name suggests, naked.  “The naked mole rat is one of the most unique mammal species that we currently house in the Riverbanks collection due to its unusual, hairless appearance,” said John Davis, curator of mammals at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “The small rodent-like mammal is about the size of the palm of your hand, and its skin is very wrinkly with a pinkish-gray tone.” When visitors come to see the naked mole rats, at first glance it will appear as if their tunnels are connected with the colony of Damaraland mole rats currently on exhibit. However, the two separate tunnel structures do not intersect at all. In the wild these two species would not typically interact together, so the staff created an intricate tunnel system for the naked mole rats independent from that of the Damaraland mole rats. Each colony has a separate space complete with see-through tunnels and chambers visible from the lobby of the Zoo’s Discovery Center. Mole rats are community diggers and have razor sharp front incisors used to cooperatively dig throughout their day. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, wild naked mole rats typically live in underground burrows and dig tunnels in search of food and to avoid prey such as snakes. They identify chambers to use for separate purposes, for instance, feeding, nesting, sleeping and even one for a latrine.  The naked mole rats at Riverbanks will be managed as a breeding colony. A queen mate will have one or possibly two mates, producing litters of worker offspring that do not breed. The colony has three males, eight females and one juvenile whose sex has yet to be determined. The group has reproduced in the past, and the staff anticipates that breeding patterns will resume once the mole rats become adjusted to their new home. Naked mole rats are one of the 12 species of rodents that share the Bathyrides family; their closest relatives are porcupines, guinea pigs and chinchillas. They have gained notoriety on Disney Channel's kids television show Kim Possible, where Rufus, a naked mole rat, stars as one of the leading characters’ pocket-sized pet. The naked mole rats are now on exhibit full-time and visible during normal Zoo hours.
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