Are the Scammer Aliens from Bender's Big Score references to Singularity Sky?

Question

I recently read Charles Stross' Singularity Sky (2003). Within, there are a group of creatures known as the Critics, who resemble large naked mole rats. Likewise, in the Futurama film Bender's Big Score (2007), the scammer aliens resemble large naked mole rats.

While the Critics provide high-level commentary and analysis for the Festival by visiting the affected planets, the scammer aliens gather a massive amount of intimate details about their victims.

Are their similarities coincidental, or was it meant as a (very) subtle reference to Stross' novel?

Answer 1

It's never mentioned.

While possible, I've found no references to Singularity Sky in the DVD commentary, wiki page, or web searches. I would guess that the similarities are coincidental.