What physiological strategy does the Plateau Zokor use against chronically low oxygen levels?

Higher concentrations of hemoglobin and total red blood cell counts

The Plateau Zokor (*Myospalax baileyi*), living in high-altitude sealed burrows, faces extreme environmental challenges, specifically chronic hypoxia (low oxygen) and hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide). To counteract the scarcity of available oxygen, this population has evolved significant internal circulatory adaptations. They exhibit substantially higher concentrations of both hemoglobin and total red blood cell counts compared to surface-dwelling rodents like laboratory rats or pikas. This increase in oxygen-carrying capacity directly enhances their ability to efficiently transport the limited oxygen present in their blood.