When researchers at the Salk Institute in San Diego welcomed their first naked mole rat colony in 2019, they named the residents “Amigos,” meaning “friends” in Spanish. Naked mole rats, native to East Africa, have fascinated scientists for decades due to their unique social structures and impressive lifespan, often exceeding 30 years.
Typically, these colonies revolve around one queen, who is the sole breeding female. However, unexpected observations from the Salk colony challenged long-held beliefs. Instead of aggressive battles for dominance, the transition of leadership here was surprisingly peaceful.
Veterinarian Shanes Abeywardena, who is part of the research team, remarked, “Maybe they heard us and decided to show us they’re friends.” The findings were published in the journal Science Advances in April 2023, adding a fresh understanding of the cooperative behaviors among these intriguing creatures.
The Salk colony arrived with Queen Teré and her male partner, Paquito, along with their lively offspring. As is common, Teré maintained her role by giving birth to multiple new pups. However, challenges arose in 2021 when the colony reached a size of 39. Overcrowding likely affected the health of her litters, leading to several newborns failing to survive.
In a proactive move, the researchers split the colony, sending part of it to form a new group, the Amici colony. Afterward, Tére’s reproductive capability stalled due to a facility change in 2022. Many anticipated an aggressive takeover, as is often witnessed in other colonies; however, two of her daughters began to mature. To everyone’s surprise, rather than rebel, Teré supported her daughter Arwen as she ascended as the new queen.
Abeywardena noted how the non-aggressive transition helps both the colony and Teré herself. “Those fatal queen wars can cost energy and lives,” she explained. This finding parallels the ongoing challenges faced by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where a violent regime change has been observed, highlighting the complexities of social dynamics in naked mole rat colonies.
As researchers continue to explore their behavior, it’s become clear that naked mole rats defy many conventions — from their unique physical traits to their social structures. The more scientists observe, the more they realize that these creatures might be more sociable and cooperative than once thought. The shift in our understanding could reshape how we view social cooperation in animals.
For further reading on the fascinating lives of naked mole rats, visit the National Zoo.
