Rare Animal Feels No Pain, Develops No Diseases, and Almost Doesn't Age — and Holds Something Valuable That Could Transform Science

Rare Animal Feels No Pain, Develops No Diseases, and Almost Doesn’t Age — and Holds Something Valuable That Could Transform Science

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 17/06/2025 at 14:12

Updated on 17/06/2025 at 14:15

Imagem: IA

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The naked mole rat, also known as the naked mole-rat, is one of the most curious animals in nature. With its unusual appearance and even more peculiar habits, it has attracted the attention of science and the public due to its rare and surprising biological characteristics.

This small mammal lives in underground colonies in regions of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Its scientific name is Heterocephalus glaber.

Its body is long, wrinkled, and virtually hairless. The teeth are large and used for digging tunnels. The appearance may be strange, but it is the result of adaptations to a life underground.

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Surprising Resistance to Pain and Diseases

Science, Rare Animal, Disease — Credits: By Roman Klementschitz, Vienna – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=252701

One of the most impressive characteristics of the naked mole rat is its resistance to extreme situations. It is insensitive to pain in many cases, survives with little oxygen, and lives for decades. While other rodents live only a few years, this animal can reach up to 40 years of age.

Another important fact is its resistance to cancer. Researchers have identified that naked mole rats practically do not develop tumors. This finding has attracted scientists from various parts of the world who seek to understand how this defense mechanism works.

The phenomenon known as neoteny is also noteworthy. This term refers to the ability to retain juvenile characteristics even after reaching sexual maturity. The thin and hairless skin is an example of this. This phenomenon may be related to the animal’s long lifespan.

A Mammal with Ant-Like Organization

The social organization of the naked mole rat is unique among mammals. It lives in a system called eusociality, something common among insects like ants and bees, but very rare among mammals. In this structure, there is a dominant female, known as the queen, who is the only one that reproduces.

Other colony members act as workers or soldiers, taking care of tunnel maintenance, foraging, and group defense.

The division of labor is clear: the queen produces the young, a few males serve as breeders, and the others care for the community. This organization ensures the survival and growth of the colonies, even in hostile environments.

Rare Animal and Valuable to Science

The scientific interest in this animal lies in these characteristics: cancer resistance, insensitivity to pain, longevity, and adaptation to low-oxygen environments. Furthermore, it serves as an example to understand how social living evolved in certain mammal species.

Five-Kilometer Tunnels and Young Ones Leaving the Colony

Some curiosities round out this scenario. The tunnels dug by a single colony can exceed five kilometers. To avoid inbreeding, young males leave the colony to seek out other groups.

The naked mole rat remains a mystery to science in many respects. Its existence is proof of how nature can create unexpected solutions to ensure survival. At the same time, it shows how much we can still learn from lesser-known species with unusual habits.

With information from O Antagonista.

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Rare Animal Feels No Pain, Develops No Diseases, and Almost Doesn’t Age — and Holds Something Valuable That Could Transform Science

Surprising Resistance to Pain and Diseases

A Mammal with Ant-Like Organization

Rare Animal and Valuable to Science

Five-Kilometer Tunnels and Young Ones Leaving the Colony

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Rare Animal Feels No Pain, Develops No Diseases, and Almost Doesn’t Age — and Holds Something Valuable That Could Transform Science

With Strange Appearance and Unique Abilities, the Naked Mole Rat Intrigues Scientists by Living Decades, Resisting Diseases and Having a Social Structure Similar to That of Insects

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