The rodent subfamily Rhizomyinae includes the Asian bamboo rats and certain of the African mole-rats. The subfamily is grouped with the Spalacinae and the Myospalacinae into a family of fossorial muroid rodents basal to the other Muroidea.
The naked mole-rat, also known as the sand puppy, is a burrowing rodent native to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya, notably in Somali regions. It is closely related to the blesmols and is the only species in the genus Heterocephalus.
The blesmols, also known as mole-rats, or African mole-rats, are burrowing rodents of the family Bathyergidae. They represent a distinct evolution of a subterranean life among rodents much like the pocket gophers of North America, the tuco-tucos in South America, or the Spalacidae from Eurasia.
The rodent parvorder or infraorder Phiomorpha comprises several living and extinct families found wholly or largely in Africa. Along with Anomaluromorpha and perhaps the extinct Zegdoumyidae, it represents one of the few early colonizations of Africa by rodents.
The Damaraland mole-rat, Damara mole rat or Damaraland blesmol, is a burrowing rodent found in southern Africa. Along with the smaller, less hairy, naked mole rat, it is a species of eusocial mammal.
The Cape mole-rat is a species of mole-rat endemic to South Africa. It is the only extant species currently described as belonging to the genus Georychus.
The Namaqua dune mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae found in Namibia and South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, caves, and sandy shores.
The Cape dune mole-rat is a species of solitary burrowing rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to South Africa and named for the Cape of Good Hope.
Ansell's mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to Zambia. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and miombo forests. It is noted for its very long tunnels, up to 2.8 km (1.7 mi) for a single colony of only ten individuals. The colonies are made of an eusocial system. They include a main reproductive king and queen that are thought to be faithful to one another.
Bocage's mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Angola, Namibia, possibly Democratic Republic of the Congo, and possibly Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and caves.
The Mashona mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and caves.
The Nigerian mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in northern Nigeria and Cameroon. A colonial, subterranean species, its natural habitats are tropical dry lowland grassland, riverside woodland and rocky places.
The Kafue mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to Zambia. Its natural habitat is moist savanna.
Mechow's mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and possibly Malawi. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. This mole-rat was first described by the German naturalist Wilhelm Peters in 1881. The specific epithet honours the Prussian explorer and naturalist Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow.
The Ochre mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, caves, and arable land.
The Ghana mole-rat or Togo mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to Ghana.
The Zambian mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Cryptomys hottentotus.
Fukomys is a genus described in 2006 of common mole-rats, containing several species that were formerly placed in the genus Cryptomys; its species are endemic to Africa.
Fukomys vandewoestijneae or Caroline's mole rat was first noticed in 2002 by a research team from the University of Ghent. This new species, distinguished by a distinctive skull shape, was recently described by Paul Van Daele and his team in Zootaxa while DNA and chromosome tests confirmed its novelty. The new species was named after Van Daele's late wife, Caroline Van De Woestijne, who was a member of the research team and died of malaria while in Africa.
The Somali striped mole rat is a species of small mole rat that is endemic to Africa.
