KM Viray
5. Naked Mole-Rat
If you think Rufus the naked mole-rat character on Disney’s Kim Possible was cute, the real life version might make you think otherwise. The naked mole-rat, also known as the sand puppy or desert mole rat, is a burrowing mammal native to parts of East Africa.
It may look unpleasant—eight to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long and 30 to 35 grams (1.1 to 1.2 oz) heavy with small eyes; thin, short legs; little hair; wrinkled pink or yellow skin; and large protruding teeth—this animal is quite remarkable for its resistance to cancer and its longevity.
These mole-rats don’t feed on other animals either—they’re just fine eating tubers or, sometimes, their own feces.
