mole rat

American  

[mohl-rat] / ˈmoʊlˌræt /

Or mole-rat,

noun

1. any of several eastern European burrowing rodents, especially those of the genus Spalax, having no tail, short limbs, and small eyes with permanently closed lids.

2. bandicoot.

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mole rat British  

noun

1. any burrowing molelike African rodent of the family Bathyergidae

2. any similar rodent, esp any member of the genus Spalax, of Asia and North Africa: family Spalacidae

3. the bandicoot rat See bandicoot

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Etymology

Origin of mole rat

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

A new study of the bizarre naked mole rat shows that the animals have evolved a DNA repair mechanism that could explain their longevity.

From BBC

A naked mole rat is seen in a display enclosure of a new building for small mammals, birds, carnivorous plants and insectivorous animals at the zoological-botanical garden in Stuttgart.

From Salon

He started in 2006 with the naked mole rat and has since photographed thousands more, including the Indochinese green magpie, the Arabian cobra, and the güiña, a small spotted cat from South America.

From National Geographic

There are a few other candidate genes that we’ve discovered, not only in whales but in rodents such as the naked mole rat.

From Scientific American

The strength of outdoor light is so much stronger than window light, it’s comparable to taking a naked mole rat from its underground lair and moving it to Mars.

From Seattle Times