Naked Mole Rats Nature Watch - Hardcover

Jarrow, Gill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0876149956 ISBN 13: 9780876149959

Publisher: Carolrhoda, 1996

Synopsis

An introduction to the science of the animal world explains which animal is the stupidest, why vultures have bald heads, how vampire bats suck blood, and other unusual mysteries

About this title

Synopsis

In this fascinating book - with index and glossary - the reader is introduced to the highly unusual naked mole-rat. Surviving underground in the drlest regions of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia in large colonies, these rodents' closest relations are guinea pigs, chinchillas and porcupines - not moles or rats! Living in large colonies controlled by the queen mole-rat who is the only reproducing female (about 900 pups in an average 12 year life time), these unique creatures have an amazing social structure whereby they each have a role to play to ensure optimum survival in a habitat where food is widely spread out. Their bizarre fur-less bodies are made for underground life ...and the bizarreness doesn't stop therel 5 facts you didn't know about naked mole-rats: They can run as fast backwards as forwards; They have no sweat glands or fat layer and act like a living hot water bottle; They can roll halfway round inside their own skin; They rely on vibrations as they have no outer ears; A colony of 87 mole-rats burrowed for 1km in 3 months with their teeth; With brilliant full colour photos and illustrations throughout.

Gail Jarrow and Paul Sherman relate the whole story of these weird and wonderful animals.

Edition details

• Publisher: Carolrhoda
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0876149956
• ISBN 13: 9780876149959
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48