Naked mole rat queens usually rule with a fierce paw. These unique rodents have a strict system: only one female can reproduce. When she passes away, a chaotic battle among the other females erupts, leading to violent confrontations until a new queen arises.
However, researchers at the Salk Institute in California discovered something surprising. In their study, a queen named Teré peacefully passed her role to one of her daughters without any bloodshed. “This suggests that naked mole rats can have a more flexible reproductive system than we thought,” said Janelle Ayres, a physiologist who helped with the research.
Naked mole rats are eusocial animals, similar to bees and ants. In their colonies, there’s a clear divide between those who reproduce and those who assist, allowing for better survival in their harsh African environments. Yet, this strict hierarchy comes with risks. Limited genetic diversity among pups can make the colony vulnerable to diseases or environmental changes. Researchers wondered if there was a way for multiple queens to coexist without conflict.
In 2019, Ayres and her team studied a family group of naked mole rats to explore this idea. They created scenarios that changed Teré’s reproductive status, like moving her to a new environment. This resulted in her stopping reproduction for nearly a year. During that time, two of Teré’s daughters began to breed. By the end of 2025, her daughter Arwen took over as the sole queen.
This study highlights an unexpected aspect of social behaviors in these fascinating creatures. Peaceful queen succession opens new avenues for understanding the dynamics of social structures, even in the animal kingdom.
According to a recent survey from the Animal Behavior Society, studies on social animals like naked mole rats can reveal insights into cooperation and conflict, principles that might also apply to human societies. The fact that a violent regime can shift to a peaceful transition may inspire researchers in various fields to consider new frameworks about societal leadership.
For a deeper look into the remarkable lives of naked mole rats, check out this Scientific American article.
