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The Anatolian mole rat (Nannospalax xanthodon) is a mammal known for its specialized adaptations to a subterranean existence. Here, we present a field observation of an N. xanthodon individual exhibiting an unusual escape behavior in response to the risk of predation from a domesticated mammal. Faced with this imminent danger, the mole rat displayed a capacity for aquatic locomotion, successfully swimming across a river to escape the predator. This observation challenges our current understanding of the antipredator repertoire in N. xanthodon and underscores the potential for stress-induced behavioral plasticity in subterranean mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]