The Family Bathyergidae consists of African mole-rats, including species like the naked mole-rat and Damaraland mole-rat. These small to medium-sized rodents are fossorial, spending most of their lives underground in elaborate burrow systems. Bathyergids are highly social, with some species exhibiting eusocial behavior similar to that of insects, including cooperative breeding and division of labor. They have adaptations for a subterranean lifestyle, such as strong incisors for digging, reduced vision, and enhanced tactile and olfactory senses. Ecologically, they play important roles in soil aeration and nutrient cycling, and some species, like the naked mole-rat, are studied extensively for insights into longevity, cancer resistance, and hypoxia tolerance.