Data from: Growth affects dispersal success in social mole-rats, but not the duration of philopatry

In naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber), some non-breeding males show faster growth and are more likely to disperse than others. These differences have been suggested to be the result of a specialized developmental strategy leading to shorter philopatry and independent breeding, as opposed to extended philopatry as non-reproductive helpers. However, it is unclear whether fast-growing males disperse sooner than slow-growing males. An alternative explanation is that variation in quality between individuals causes high-quality individuals to grow quickly and maximize dispersal success without reducing philopatry. Here we show, that in Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis), males that subsequently disperse successfully, grow faster than other non-reproductive males. This pattern is predicted by both hypotheses and does not discriminate between them. However, contrary to the suggestion that faster growth represents a developmental specialisation for early dispersal, fast-growing and slow-growing males remained equally long in their natal groups. Our study provides no evidence for adaptive divergence in male development leading either to early dispersal, or extended philopatry. Instead of representing specialized dispersers, fast-growing males of this species may be high-quality individuals.PublicationDataData of the non-reproductive males with growth rate, body mass, group size, disperser, group ID and sex for each individual.PublicationGrowthDataAnimal ID, group ID, growth rate, body mass, sex and tenure of philopatry (days) for each non-reproductive male.PublicationTimeColonyDataAnima ID, group ID, time of philopatry (days) and disperse (yes-no) for each non-reproductive male