The risk of death of this animal does not increase as the years go by
The so-called naked mole rat is known for its peculiar physical image (some have come to affirm that it is one of the most unpleasant animals to human sight that exists), and because it does not let scientists wonder. Mainly because it is one of the few mammals that does not develop cancer. Even if you are grafted with metastasized tissue, it neutralizes them by re-healing your body. And also for other amazing faculties such as his ability to resist up to eighteen minutes without breathing.
But now, a new study by Rochelle Buffenstein, a researcher at the University of Cape Town, has uncovered yet another striking feature of this peculiar creature. Nearly all mammals comply with the so-called Gompertz-Makeham mortality law, according to which the chances of dying increase exponentially when they reach adulthood. But this species of rodent is also beyond the scope of this law.
The researcher found that in a controlled environment (where there is no external risk of death), the mortality rate among mole rats did not increase when they became adults. It is estimated that this species has an average life expectancy of six years, but it is not uncommon to see specimens reaching thirty, and some of them still being fertile.
It was already known that the mole rat showed no identifiable outward signs of what we call old age, but now it seems that its organism does not wear itself out in a clear way with the passage of time until it reaches its peak of life. The key could be in certain proteins that give it a greater capacity to avoid energetic wear.