The South African Common Molerat: Cryptomys hottentotus

All You Need To Know About The Common Molerat Rodent

Molerats make up a family of rodents that are endemic to Africa. Rodent Moles are very similar to normal Moles and have habits that are exactly like the poor sighted Mole. Mole rats have keen burrowing habits, large incisor teeth, similar looks and poor eyesight! The Common Molerats of South Africa live in groups inside burrows, which are mainly dug by using their incisors. Soil becomes loose underground and is thrown up by the Common Molerat, this is not a tactic loved by gardeners! After rains, the Common Molerat builds tunnels of up to 15cm below the ground surface.

This underground dwelling mammal is often referred to as the African Mole Rat.

In the Common Molerat burrows, breeding takes place and 1-5 young rodents are born weighing in at around 9 grams, they can have their young at anytime during the year. The Common Molerat occasionally looks for better feeding grounds, when the rodent mole does this at night it is very vulnerable to predation and predators like Owls.

Common Molerat Description

The fur of this South African rodent is silky, soft and quite short. The colour of the Mole-rat depends on the colour of the soil it is burrowing in and it is most like the Cape Molerat. The Common Molerat is more brown in colour than it's counterpart and lacks white patches on the nose, ear, eye and throat. This rodent has no scent glands, but has keen sense of smell and hearing, so it is not an easy job to approach a Common Molerat. It has very poor eye-sight.

Common Molerat Distribution And Habitat

The Common Molerat is found all throughout South Africa except in the far left hand corner of the Northern Province. It is found in all sorts of habitats (Although thought to be water-dependant). The soil does not matter too much in the case of this rodent as long as it is not hard soil or some types of clay soil.

How Big Is A Mole Rat?

The Common Molerat can way anything from 100-145 grams and is usually around 16cm long.

Common Molerat Behavior

The Common Molerat is a nocturnal rodent mole, but after rains it may be active during the daytime hours. Colonies of these mammals live in burrows (Which are dug using their incisors) up to 30 cm below the surface and up to 1km wide. The Common Molerat colonies vary in size, but it is not unusual to here about a colony of up to 15 rodents. These burrows are defended as territories and on average a Mole Rat territory is about 1.5 square kilometers large. When a Common Molerat is feeling aggressive, it will throw it's head back and display it's very large incisors. The contact calls between these South African Mole-like species are made up of all different sorts of hisses and snorts.

Food And Diet Of The Common Molerat

The Common Molerat is mainly a vegetarian herbivore that eats roots, tubers, grasses, leaves and bulbs, but occasionally this rodent feeds on small vertebrates.

Predators Of The Common Molerat

Almost all predators that can catch a Common Molerat will eat it, but the main predators of this species include Barn Owls, Eagle Owls and Mole Snakes. If caught out in the open the cunning Leopard will also prey upon the Common Molerat.

Other Names Of The Common Molerat

Afrikaans- Vaalmol

German- Hottentotten Graumull

French- Rat-Taupe Hottentot

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