There are fifteen species in this family. They are all found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mole rats live in burrows in the ground. They have long, cylinder-shaped bodies; short legs; and small eyes and ears. Most species have loose skin that makes it easy for them to move forward or backward in underground tunnels.

Mole rats do most of their tunnel digging with their incisors (front teeth) and use their feet to move dirt out of their way.

Most species are solitary. They eat roots and tubers.