A rare and fascinating rodent found only in the high-altitude grasslands of the Bale Mountains in southern Ethiopia. As the largest member of the Tachyoryctes genus, this species stands out not only for its size but also for its ecological importance in one of Africa’s most unique and fragile mountain ecosystems. It plays a key role both as a burrower that reshapes the soil and as a primary food source for the endangered Ethiopian wolf.

True to its name, the giant mole-rat is relatively large for a burrowing rodent. It has a sturdy, cylindrical body, short limbs, and small, almost hidden eyes, which reflect its underground lifestyle. Its fur is typically dark gray to brown, and it has large, powerful front claws used for digging. Its most notable feature is its broad head, giving rise to its species name macrocephalus, which means “large head.”

Unlike some other mole-rat species, the giant mole-rat digs primarily with its strong front limbs rather than its teeth. It lives in extensive tunnel systems beneath the alpine meadows and grasslands of the Sanetti Plateau, which lies at elevations over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). These burrows include chambers for sleeping, storing food, and nesting. The mole-rat feeds almost entirely on underground plant parts, including roots and tubers, and rarely surfaces—though its mounds and tunnels are often visible.

One of the most remarkable things about the giant mole-rat is its relationship with the Ethiopian wolf, the rarest canid in the world. The Ethiopian wolf relies on giant mole-rats as its primary prey, often stalking the mounds and burrow entrances in search of a quick meal. This predator-prey relationship is so closely tied that the survival of the Ethiopian wolf depends heavily on the health of mole-rat populations and their habitat.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Ethiopia

EN

2016