Naked mole rat queens, known as monarchs, typically rule by forbidding any other female from reproducing until they die, leading to bloody battles to claim the throne and become the sole breeding female in the colony. However, at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, a queen peacefully handed her power to one of her daughters, without death or bloodshed. This discovery suggests that naked mole rats are capable of peaceful succession, suggesting that they may have greater reproductive flexibility than previously appreciated. The researchers also found that while the arrangement isn't without risk, pups carrying a single female's genes are not diverse enough to survive unexpected events like disease or environmental catastrophe, the violent queen's violent enforcement of her dominance can lead to injuries.