Do moles live in Australia

Answer 1

The marsupial mole, once classified as a monotreme, is now known to be a marsupial. Its ancestry goes back 50 million years or more, and its precise classification is still a matter for argument. So I guess "Yes in Australia we have 2 Marsupial Moles" - the Northern and Southern (in south Australia, Northern Territory & Western Australia. The two species of marsupial moles are rare and poorly understood burrowing mammals of the deserts of Western Australia. Marsupial moles spend most of their time underground, coming to the surface only occasionally, probably mostly after rains. They are blind, their eyes having become reduced to vestigial lenses under the skin, and they have no external ears, just a pair of tiny holes hidden under thick hair. They do not dig permanent burrows, filling the tunnel in behind them as they move. The head is cone-shaped, with a leathery shield over the muzzle, the body tubular, the tail a short, bald stub. They are between 12 and 16 cm long, weigh 40 to 60 grams, and are uniformly covered in fairly short, very fine pale cream to white hair with an iridescent golden sheen. Their pouch has evolved to face backwards so that it does not fill with sand, and contains just two teats, so that the animal cannot bear more than two young at a time. The limbs are very short, with reduced digits. The forefeet have two large, flat claws on the third and fourth digits, which are used to excavate soil in front of the animal. The hindfeet are flattened, and bear three small claws; these feet are used to push soil behind the animal as it digs. In a feature unique to this animal, the neck vertebraeare fused to give the head greater rigidity during digging.[2] Marsupial moles provide a remarkable example of convergent evolution, with moles generally, and with the golden moles of Africa in particular. Although only related to other moles in that they are all mammals, the external similarity is an extraordinary reflection of the similar evolutionary paths they have followed. They are insectivorous, feeding primarily on beetle larve and cossid caterpillars.[2] Their teeth have a somewhat simplified structure, but their dental formula is similar to that of other marsupials Southern Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes typhlops)

The Marsupial Mole

The southern marsupial mole is an endangered species that lives in Southern Australia and the Northern Territory. This species is also known as the "blind sand burrower". Southern marsupial moles are endangered due to predators such as the fox, the dingo, and cats; another possible reason is the declining presence of food sources. There is very limited information on this species due to its secretive nature. Average southern marsupial moles measure 130mm including the head and body. A very short tail is preset (only about 20mm). The head is pointed to assist in burrowing. Strong limbs are present with paws that are more like scoops. There are no eyes present and there are mere openings for ears. Plenty of fine yellow fur covers the body of the southern marsupial mole. This species is slightly smaller Southern marsupial moles are solitary creatures that spend most of their time burrowing in the sandy soil. The species will dig shallow tunnels but burrows are much deeper in the soil. It is believed that the southern marsupial mole, after heavy rainfall, will come to the surface. The diet of the southern marsupial mole consists mainly of larvae and pupae. This species most likely seeks out food using scent due to the lack of sight and minimal hearing. Breeding information is unavailable about this species