The subterranean niche provides protection against predators : a review of predation on members of the family Bathyergidae

Abstract

African mole-rats (family Bathyergidae) are subterranean rodents endemic to sub-Saharan Africa which spend nearly their entire lives in complex underground burrows. The subterranean niche provides a drastically decreased predation risk compared to epigeous rodents. The underground burrows of mole-rats have been compared to hidden and well defended fortresses, nigh impossible for predators to locate and assail. Predation rates of mole-rats while in their burrows may be incredibly low, but the frequencies of predation have not been quantified. This review collates observations of predation in African mole-rats primarily from diet studies conducted on mammalian, avian, and reptilian species which may be predators of African mole-rats. This review also includes new observations obtained from citizen science platforms (iNaturalist), social media, and personal interviews. The results indicate that African mole-rats are rarely predated upon and comprise less than 10% of the diet of most potential predators. However, the frequent above-ground foraging by the large Cape dune mole-rat, may result in increased predation pressure from Verreaux’s eagles.