Eusociality in a Mammal: Cooperative Breeding in Naked Mole-Rat Colonies

1981/05/01 by J. U. M. Jarvis · 4 citations
Social Sciences · Psychology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation #Primate Behavior and Ecology #Plant and animal studies

paper · doi:10.1126/science.7209555

openalex publication_date 1981/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Laboratory observations on a field-collected colony of 40 Heterocephalus have shown that only a single female breeds. The remaining individuals constitute two or three castes, each containing both sexes and distinguishable by size differences and the tasks they perform. These features, together with long life-spans, overlap of generations, cooperative brood care, and possible age polyethism provide parallels with the eusocial insects.

Citations

• The genetical evolution of social behaviour. I

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• Mammal [wikipedia]