Bathyergidae – Blesmols

Although rodents, blesmols live like insects in colonies of up to several dozen, which a Queen leads

The family contains twelve species in a total of five genera. They are found throughout Africa, ranging in size from around 80 grams to perhaps 600 grams. Similar to other insect species, only the queen blesmol can reproduce and have offspring.

They spend almost their entire lives under the ground with no light whatsoever, and perhaps because they live in an environment without light, mole rats seem to rely heavily on their sense of touch. Their tails are short but clearly used as tactile organs when the animals are backed. Although they occasionally emerge to search for seeds or other plants