Spalacidae

Spalacidae is a family of rodents in the muroid superfamily Muroidea, encompassing the blind mole rats, bamboo rats, mole rats and zokors. Members share short limbs, wedge shaped skulls, strong neck muscles, large incisors and small eyes, and in blind mole rats the eyes are covered by skin with no external ears or tail. All species dig extensive burrows and feed on roots, bulbs and tubers, and the family is native to eastern Asia, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and southeastern Europe. It comprises three subfamilies, six genera and 37 species; phylogenetic study later showed the group shares one common underground-adapted ancestor rather than having evolved that lifestyle several times independently.