Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Scientific Name: Heterocephilui gober

Range: East Africa: Southeast Ethiopia, Eastern Kenya and Somalia

Habitat: Underground only - animals will come to the surface to migrate to new groups. Usually 70 - 80 to a colony with 7-inch deep and single passage - 20 inch 2-lane passages. In grasslands and savannas.

Diet: Wild: Tubers and roots only, wild species east sweet potatoes. All moisture comes from food. Young eat a form of feces called a cecotroph to obtain beneficial bacteria that aids digestion.
Zoo: Rodent pellets, yam, apple, carrot, corn, banana, kale

Gestation: about 10 weeks, pups can walk in a few hours and east solid food at 3-4 weeks

Litter: Usually 3 to 15 pups. Can have up to 4-5 litters per year

Life Span: As much as 23 years in captivity. Snakes are the main predator.

Description: Four protruding teeth on the outside of the lips. Eyes are almost useless. Ears are just holes in the skin. Wrinkled pinkish skin. 3 - 4 inches long, weighs 102 grams. Largely hairless, although covered by some thin hairs that are sensitive to vibration.

Behavior: Lives in a large colony and has a cooperative social structure. It is a burrowing rodent, virtually blind, and never eats food above ground. Only mammal with a social organization similar to bees, ants, and termites.

Reproduction: The colony is dominated by the only breeding female or queen. The queen has 1 to 3 mates. She mates almost every 3 months within about 1 week of her last litter.

Did You Know?

• It is a rodent, as are rats, squirrels, capybara, guinea pig, etc.
• Also called "Sand Puppies."
• Very dependent on each other - called eusocial behavior like ants and bees.
• Incisors can be moved separately or together, and lips close behind them to keep out dirt.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the African Elephant Crossing at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.