Stuffed Common Blind Mole Rat (Spalax microphthalmos L.)

Taxidermist S. P. Lytvynenko. 

The stuffed Common Blind Mole Rat is an underground rodent of the blind mole rat family (Spalacidae), distributed in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Eastern Europe. The animal is depicted in a characteristic posture while moving, demonstrating the anatomical features that have developed as adaptations to a subterranean way of life.

The Blind Mole Rat has a massive cylindrical body, short and powerful limbs, and a large wedge-shaped head. Its eyes are highly reduced and concealed beneath the skin, while external ears are absent. Dense, soft greyish-brown fur facilitates movement through narrow underground passages. The animal uses primarily its powerful incisors for digging, with the incisors projecting forwards and capable of functioning independently of the oral cavity.

The Blind Mole Rat is solitary and spends most of its life in a complex system of underground tunnels. It feeds mainly on underground plant parts, including roots, tubers, and bulbs, and accumulates substantial food stores. The species is an important component of steppe ecosystems, influencing soil structure and vegetation cover.

The animal was found in floodplain meadows near the village of Sosnivka, Myrhorod District, in 2023.

Provenance: Donated to the museum by S. K. Bezuhlyi in 2025.