Mole Rats

Synonyms

Cryptomys

Heterocephalus

Mole Rat

Mole-Rat

Mole-Rats

Molerat

Molerats

Rat, Mole

Rats, Mole

Any of several burrowing rodents of the families MURIDAE and Bathyergidae, found in eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. They have short limbs, small eyes with permanently closed lids, and no tail. Three genera SPALAX (Muridae), Heterocephalus (Bathyergidae) and Cryptomys (Bathyergidae) are used frequently as experimental animals in biomedical research. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed)