Head to head
Cape Mole-rat vs Naked Mole-Rat
Cape Mole-rat
VS Naked Mole-Rat
The Cape mole-rat and naked mole-rat are both African mole-rats that live almost entirely underground, but one lives alone while the other lives in tightly organised colonies.
| Cape Mole-rat | Naked Mole-Rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Georychus capensis | Heterocephalus glaber |
| Region and habitat | Sandy soils and coastal scrub in the Cape region of South Africa | Hot, dry savannas and semi-deserts of the Horn of Africa with deep, workable soil |
| Social life | Solitary, defending its own tunnel system | Eusocial, with one breeding queen and one to three breeding males among 70 to 300 non-breeding workers and soldiers |
| Diet | Bulbs, corms, and roots found by tunnelling | Large underground tubers and roots, gnawed hollow and left to regrow |
| Communication | Drums its hind feet to send vibration signals through the ground | Not specifically documented |
| Body | Very small eyes, relying mostly on touch and vibration underground | Hairless and almost cold-blooded, with body temperature tracking the burrow |
| Standout trait | Pushes excess soil up in mounds, much like a mole | Feels no pain from acid or chilli, lives over 35 years, and survives long periods in low oxygen |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, locally common | Least Concern, common within its range |
Cape Mole-rat vs Naked Mole-Rat: common questions
Which mole-rat lives in colonies?
The naked mole-rat, which lives in a colony with a single breeding queen, while the Cape mole-rat is solitary.
How does the Cape mole-rat communicate?
It sends vibration signals through the ground by drumming its hind feet.
Where do the Cape mole-rat and naked mole-rat live?
The Cape mole-rat lives in the Cape region of South Africa, while the naked mole-rat lives in the Horn of Africa, in Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya.