There are two types of mole rats (both small in size): the naked mole rat and the Damaraland mole rat.
Both are unique small rodents and live their entire lives underground, in burrowing eusocial colonies in Africa. These colonies are like those found in eusocial colonies of ants, termites, and bees. Similarly, fhere is also only a single queen in each mole colony.
Both kinds of mole rats have no external ears and very tiny eyes (because they live all their lives underground, eyes/sight is not that important).
The naked mole-rat, which lives in grassy, semi-arid regions of East Africa, is hairless with wrinkled skin that is red grayish-pink in color. This kind of mole rat can live up to 30 years.
Figure 2. Inside view of the underground colony of H. glaber = Naked Mole Rat.
Figure 3. An adult Fukomys damarensis = Damaraland Mole Rat, which lives in Southern Africa, has short black/gray fur--along with a white patch at the top of the head.
Both types of these mole rats have a long lifespan (up to 30 years). They are most closely related to porcupines and guinea pigs, than to true moles or rats. Both type of these mole rats have powerful teeth used to dig underground tunnel systems.
The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has a cam for the public to view a live colony of mole rats (if the cam is working).
Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
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Naked Mole Rat: Damaraland Mole Rat:
Family Bathyegidae Family Bathyegidae
Genus Heterocephalus Genus Fukomys
Species glaber Species damasrensis
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