Mole rat

Mole rats are giant rodents who just love to sink their teeth into your flesh. While the giant mole rats found on the West Coast are mostly covered with fur, the ones from the East Coast are not, possibly being mutations of different species.

Origins
On the "Pentagon Library Terminal" in the Citadel, it can be discovered that the mole rats in the Capital Wasteland (and possibly the other mutated rats in Fallout and Fallout 2) are the result of an American government program to develop an invasive organism 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. (This may be the mechanism stumbled onto by Moira in the Repellent Stick.) Additionally, it is revealed that the researchers attempted to use the Forced Evolutionary Virus to further augment the mutated rats' creation, but dismissed this course of action as FEV had a propensity to render subjects sterile (defeating the whole purpose of the rats' being invasive).

Biology
An Enclave field report in Fallout 3 classifies mole rats as follows:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Chordata
 * Class: Mammalia
 * Order: Rodentia
 * Family: Bathyergidae

According to the report, mole rats most closely resemble a Heterocephalus Glaber with enlargement due to heavy radiation. While larger than their ancestors, the mole rats have similarly low brain function, possibly due to an exceedingly tiny brain organ. Their incisors show increased enamel and dentine growth, making them razor sharp. In addition, the rats have extremely low levels of Substance P which results in an incredible pain tolerance.

Fallout, Fallout 2
Mole rats can often be found in packs together with pig rats and giant rats. Mole rats are best killed by a combat shotgun to the face and are very easy to get a little xp from. Early on however, the easiest way to kill them is to aim for the eyes, a critically vulnerable part. A player with a good unarmed or melee skill can effectively one shot them by doing so.

Albino Mole Rats
A rare variety of intelligent, albino mole rats exists, and their origins are unknown. They're a bit bigger than a normal mole rat and have a pair of red eyes. The only two known specimens are Keeng Ra'at and Brain.

Fallout 3

 * In Fallout 3, the Mole Rat, more similar to the Pig Rat of yore, will most likely be the first creature other than the Radroach and Bloatfly that you encounter, and also one of the easiest to kill. However in large numbers they can be dangerous to low level players.


 * The Animal Friend perk works against mole rats.


 * Mole rat meat can be used to make Mole Rat Wonder Meat.


 * Moira Brown noted in her computer terminal that mole rats can be domesticated, but only after de-clawing, de-teething, and a lobotomy.

Appearances
Mole Rats appear in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout 3. They were going to appear in the canceled Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2.

Gallery
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