African Mole-Rats: Ecology and Eusociality [Hardcover]

Nigel C. Bennett and Chris C. Faulkes are familiar with the biology of mole-rats and having published numerous studies on this topic they are well known to students of mole-rats. The authors present a review of most aspects of ecology and social behavior in African mole-rats. The first chapter presents an overview of taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships within the family. The following two chapters deal with adaptions and activities of mole-rats in their underground burrows with respect to physiology, energetics, food and foraging. The subsequent main part of the book describes and discusses several aspects of sociality including social organisation, reproductive characteristics, molecular genetics and the evolution of eusociality.

Most chapters provide detailed treatment of subjects in concern and further unpublished data are added. The presentation is clearly arranged with plenty of informative pictures, drawings, tables and maps. The main attention of the authors is given the biology of social Bathyergidae, although the biology of solitary genera (which is in fact poorly studied) may contributed to our knowledge of the evolution of eusociality. Thus the title of the book should have stressed more the aspect of eusociality in mole-rats than on African mole-rats in general. Furthermore, some important aspects of ecology, especially parasites of Bathyergidae, are not considered by the authors, although there is published information available. Parasites may well influence evolution of sociality. Besides that, the spectrum of some internal parasites (helminths) give new insights in feeding behavior of mole-rats. The chapter dealing with physical and sensory adaptions to the subterranean habitat is too short and simplified ignors the extensive literature accumulated in recent years. Such interesting and indeed unique research like findings on magnetic compass orientation in mole-rats has been completely omitted.

A main shortcoming of the book is the biased selection of citations. Many papers (and particularly the more recent ones) of other authors have been neglected. The most recent publication are from the year 1997. Subsequent citations just consider publications of the authors themselves. The interpretation of taxonomy and nomenclature of Zambian Cryptomys ignores the recent developments. Indeed, one would expect a more up-to-date index of references.

In conclusion, a reader familiar with African mole-rats will find, that Bennett and Faulkes focus mainly on their own studies and ideas and pay little attention to related research of others. Thus, the anticipitation formulated by J. Jarvis in the foreword that the book "will provide a valuable source of information for many years to come" is not be taken for granted.