The Marsupial Mole
February 9th 2007 10:08
One of Australia's least known mammals, the Marsupial Mole is a unique and seldom seen desert-dwelling creature found in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is an animal seen so rarely that many zoologists and other various 'ologists fear that the creature's status may be incredibly critical. So little is known of the Marsupial Mole that it is almost impossible to tell how endangered it is... it is not even known how many of these animals currently exist.
Despite looking almost exactly like a Mole, the Marsupial Mole is not related to other moles in any close way whatsoever. Like all other marsupials, it has a pouch, and is more closely related to other marsupials such as kangaroos and wombats than it is to any true mole. Early studies suggested that the Marsupial Mole was a monotreme or at least the missing link between monotremes and marsupials, but this late 19th century po-jiggery has long been thrown out the window. The Marsupial Mole has no close relatives at all, it has become so specialised and unique (and, as a species, it is somewhere around 50 million years old) that it is not really known where it evolved from. Some recent-ish molecular studies suggested it might have diverged from the Bandicoot family just after the dinosaurs disappeared, but no one is really too sure.
The Marsupial Mole spends most of it's life underground, and it swims through sand rather than digs. It's eyes have become so useless that they barely even exist, and it has no external ears. It's nose is covered by a hardened ridge of skin almost like a shield. They grow up to 16 centimetres long and feed mostly on lizards and insects.
Recently, the species has been split by scientists into two seperate groups - the Southern Marsupial Mole (also known as the Itjari-Itjari by local aboriginals), and the Northern Marsupial Mole (also known as the Kakarratul by local aboriginals). They are very similar, except for one or two small differences (almost impossible to discern without examining them closely), and zoologists are coming to accept the aboriginal alternatives as the correct name for each species. It is believed there are most likely further species of Marsupial Moles as yet undiscovered or unclassified, we just haven't found them yet (owing to the reclusive and rare nature of these ancient creatures).
Thanks to Sandy S from Destination Oz for one of the Marsupial Mole pictures.
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