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This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple games. |
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Mole rats are giant rodents that were engineered by the United States before the Great War.
Despite the fact that they have the same name, two species can be distinguished. The mole rats found in New California are mostly covered with fur and come from moles, and those from the East Coast and the Mojave Wasteland are furless and come from naked mole rats. The naked mole rats, scientifically known as Heterocephalus glaber, come mostly from governmental experiments rather than the area, as mole rats are not native to the United States.
Background
Mole rats have sharp claws and even sharper tusks that they use to tear great chunks of flesh from their prey. Mole rats are either huge rats or the result of gene-splicing Kodiak bears with maladjusted lab rats. Fortunately, they seldom run in packs larger than a half dozen or so.[1]
Origins
According to the Pentagon Library terminal in the Citadel, mole rats in the Capital Wasteland are the result of an American government program, codenamed Mission Cloacina, to develop an invasive lifeform that could be planted in China, where its aggression and fast breeding would help undermine the Chinese war effort. It is noted that a genetic "kill switch" was included to help the US Army clean up the rats after the theoretical fall of China. Additionally, it is revealed that the researchers attempted to use the Forced Evolutionary Virus to further augment their creations, but dismissed this course of action as FEV had a tendency to render subjects sterile (defeating the whole purpose of the rats' being invasive).
Biology
An Enclave field report in Fallout 3 classifies naked mole rats as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Bathyergidae
According to the report, naked mole rats most closely resemble a Heterocephalus glaber, also known as the sand puppy or desert mole rats. Their enlargement is due to heavy radiation exposure. While larger than their ancestors, the naked mole rats have similarly low brain function, possibly due to an exceedingly tiny brain organ. Their incisors show increased enamel and dentin growth, making them razor sharp. In addition, the naked mole rats have extremely low levels of Substance P which results in incredible pain tolerance.
Variants
Hairy mole rat
A mutated mole only found in New California. They can often be found in packs together with pig rats and giant rats.
Hairy albino mole rat
A rare variety of intelligent hairy albino mole rat only found in New California. Their origins are unknown but like albino deathclaw, it appears to be caused due to a different mutation with the FEV.
They're a bit bigger than a normal hairy mole rat, have light brown hair and red eyes. They can talk and have relatively higher intelligence than the average. The only two known specimens are Keeng Ra'at and Brain.
Pig rat
In between the small giant rat and the mole rat.
Mole rat
A mutated naked mole rat found in East Coast and the Mojave Wasteland. They have very little hair on their body and are usually found in packs of three or four, rarely appearing alone or in pairs.
Mole rat pup
These are young naked mole rats and are smaller and weaker in combat. They usually stay close to their mother.
Giant mole rat
 | The following is based on Fallout 3 cut content. |
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These are giant mutations of the regular mole rats in Fallout 3, used as transport. They were cut from the game.
| End of information based on Fallout 3 cut content |
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Giant naked mole rat
 | The following is based on Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2 design documents and is not canon. |
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Mean, standing over three feet at the shoulder and weighing in at around at 200 pounds, these critters are fierce and dangerous.
| End of information based on Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2 design documents and is not canon |
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Mole rat brood mother
A powerful type of mole rat that can be encountered at high levels. The mole rat brood mother is significantly more resistant than her children, but her attacks still only do minor damage to a well-armored player character.
Vault 81 lab mole rat
Found within the Vault 81 testing area, those lab mole rats will transmit the mole rat disease when hitting the player character. There are several variations of Vault 81 mole rats, ranging from the standard variant to glowing variants.
Notable mole rats
Notes
- Moira Brown believes that it is impossible to domesticate mole rats, however the existence of the Molerat Mambo in Fallout 2, Mole rat race track in Fallout 3 and Snuffles located at Sloan in Fallout: New Vegas disproves this theory.
- It is shown in the Fallout 3 quest Wasteland Survival Guide that naked mole rats are highly allergic to certain chemicals that are used in a repellent, so much so it makes their heads explode when hit with this repellent stick.
- Mole rat skins have also been used as decoration. These can be found in several homes and shelters in both the Capital wastelands. Oddly, blood will splatter when these rugs are shot.
- Occasionally one may encounter a mole rat with mines attached to it, for example just to the east of USAF Satellite Station Olivia. These mole rats, which emit ticking time-bomb noises, will explode for substantial damage if they reach point-blank range.
Appearances
Mole rats appear in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout Shelter, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. They were going to appear in the canceled Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2.
Behind the scenes
Naked mole rats are a real species of rodent native to East Africa. They share the same general appearance as the mole rats featured in the Fallout series.
Gallery
References
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