Abstract
Naked mole rats are subterranean eusocial rodents native to Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. They are most unusual mammals because of their several exceptional features. They possess several morphological and physiological adaptive features that suit their life, and are known by their adaptations to harsh environments, exceptional longevity and healthy lifespan, colonial lifestyle, and poikilothermy. This seminar paper is intended to review these unusual and fascinating features of naked mole rats and the processes related to extended longevity and stress resistance in this unique mammal. The sociality of naked mole rats fully satisfies the original requirements of eusociality definition used for insects. Naked mole rats are tolerant to both intrinsic and extrinsic stressors including oxidative damage. They exhibit very slight morphological and physiological characteristic changes with age, and are resistant to age related diseases including cancer. They also do not show increase in mortality risk with age, and are capable to maintain a healthy reproductive status up until their death. Naked mole rats are unique among animals with a surprisingly low body temperature, and by successfully matching O2 supply to O2 demand in hypoxic conditions. These exceptional…show more content… al., 2014). They show a wide range of lifestyles from strictly solitary to eusociality as adaptations to different environmental challenges (O’Riain and Faulkes, 2008; Seney et. al., 2009). Naked mole rats (NMRs) are fully underground, functionally blind and eusocial African mole rats endemic to arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia (Crish et. al., 2003; O’Riain and Faulkes, 2008). They were first described in 1842 by Eduard Rüppell in Ethiopia, and named as Heterocephalus glaber to describe their different-headed and smooth skinned or hairless nature, respectively (Edery et. al.,
