Naked Mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Population estimates

• No systematic studies
• Considered common (Maree and Faulkes 2016)
• Population trend: stable (Maree and Faulkes 2016)

Population structure

• Low genetic diversity in local populations (Faulkes, Abbott, and Mellor 1990; Honeycutt et al. 1991; Faulkes, Abbott, et al. 1997; Braude 2000)
  • Substantial divergence among geographically separated colonies
• Differences in genetics and physical traits known (Patterson 2016)
  • No subspecies or species-level distinctions yet made; difficult to collect samples due to political strife in naked mole-rat’s distribution
• Influences on genetic variation within a population
  • Inbreeding (Honeycutt et al. 1991)
  • Random mating (Honeycutt et al. 1991)
  • New (founder) populations formed by a small number of individuals (Ingram et al. 2015)
  • Population bottlenecks (Ingram et al. 2015)

IUCN

• Least Concern (2016 assessment) (Maree and Faulkes 2016)
  • Wide distribution
  • Relatively common
  • No major threats
• Previous assessments (Maree and Faulkes 2016)
  • 2004, 2008: Least Concern
  • 1996: Lower Risk/least concern

CITES

• Not listed (UNEP 2019)

No immediate threats

(Patterson 2016)

• No conflict with farmers or ranchers (Patterson 2016)
• Not traded (Patterson 2016)
• Some authors state “no economic value” (e.g., Patterson 2016)—but see discussion on bioprospecting and biodiversity conservation (e.g., Mulatu 2018)
• Also see "Relationship with humans"

Possible concerns

• Limited ability to adapt to changing land uses by humans and climate change (Patterson 2016)
• Possibility of extirpation of genetically distinct subpopulations (Jarvis and Sherman 2002; Maree and Faulkes 2016)
  • Contributing factors: inbreeding, infrequent dispersal, and patchy distribution

Habitat areas

• Occur in several protected areas/national parks in Africa (Maree and Faulkes 2016)

Because their habitat is not suitable for agriculture or subject to urban development, naked mole-rats face no major threats in the wild.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.