The Zambian mole rat is a herbivore and its diet consists mainly of tubers, grasses and roots. They also feed on invertebrates. It is a social animal and lives in colonies of up to 20 individuals. Colonies are typically made up of a single breeding queen and her offspring.

The Zambian mole rat are seasonally reproductive and breeds once a year and the gestation period is about 100 days. Females give birth to litters of 2-4 pups. Just one female gives birth after a gestation period of about 100 days to a litter of 2 to 4 young, weaned after 35 days.

Zambian mole rats have been found to be more social than other mole rat species. Their tunnels connect to neighbouring colonies which enables them to socialise and possibly find new mates and to also steal their neighbour’s food. In one study, four colonies were linked together by tunnels spanning over 7kms.

Zambian mole rats are very social, living in family colonies consisting of a single breeding pair and their non-breeding offspring. They remain with their parents, foraging and helping to maintain the family burrow. These ‘eusocial’ family colonies are similar in social structure to termites and honeybees.