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Project Noah Nature School
Cryptomys hottentotus
Mole-like in appearance, grey-brown in colour, with large front incisors.
Found on the lawn in our garden, which is surrounded by bushveld. The soil in our area is rocky with sandy patches.
We only just managed to save the poor animal from our dogs.
Spotted on Jan 20, 2014
Submitted on May 26, 2014
2 Comments
Fun fact! Common mole rats are perfectly adapted to their subterranean lifestyle, with chisel-like incisors that are used for digging, hair behind their teeth to prevent dirt and soil from getting inside of the mouth, and short-limbed cylindrical bodies that can easily maneuver inside of tunnels. Although they are considered pests in some areas because their burrowing activity damages human property, it also improves soil drainage and turnover. https://upload.facebook.com/projectnoah/...
My father was very indignant because it was called the "common" mole rat, as he has never seen one in his life before.