Queen Mole Rat (Noun)
Meaning
An especially large mole rat and the only member of a colony of naked mole rats to bear offspring which are sired by only a few males.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The queen mole rat has significantly lower stress levels than other members of the colony, resulting in her advanced longevity compared to others.
- As the queen mole rat is typically the only female to reproduce, she and the dominant males play a vital role in the growth of the colony.
- A dominant queen mole rat will take control of the breeding process, mainly breeding with specific dominant males to maintain the gene diversity of the colony.
- It was found that queen mole rats reproduce later in their lives, where non-reproductive mole rats' bodies tend to prematurely age due to the roles that have been designated to them within the group.
- Queen mole rats usually become the future queen in one of two possible ways: inheritance of the designation once the former queen has passed away, or by displacing the former queen.