Editing Marsupial mole (section)

==Characteristics==
In an example of [[convergent evolution]], notoryctids resemble (and fill the [[ecological niche]] of) the [[Mole (animal)|talpid or true moles]] from North America and Eurasia and the Chrysochloridae or [[golden mole]]s from Southern Africa. Like chrysochlorids and [[Epoicotheriidae|epoicotheres]], notoryctids use their forelimbs and enlarged central claws to dig in a parasagittal (i.e., up and down) plane, as opposed to the "lateral scratch" style of digging that characterizes talpid moles.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Yalden, D.W. |title=The anatomy of mole locomotion |journal=Journal of Zoology |date=1 May 1966 |volume=149 |issue=1 |pages=55–64 |df=dmy-all|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1966.tb02983.x}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Rose KD, Emry RJ |title=Extraordinary fossorial adaptations in the Oligocene palaeanodonts Epoicotherium and Xenocranium (Mammalia) |journal=Journal of Morphology |date=1 Jan 1983 |volume=175 |issue=1 |pages=33–56 |df=dmy-all|doi=10.1002/jmor.1051750105 |pmid=30053775 |s2cid=51727274}}</ref>

Marsupial moles spend most of their time [[Fossorial|underground]], coming to the surface only occasionally, probably mostly after rains. They are functionally [[Blindness|blind]], their eyes having become reduced to [[vestigial]] lenses under the skin that lack a pupil. They have no external ears, just a pair of tiny holes hidden under thick hair. The head is cone-shaped, with a leathery shield over the muzzle, the body is tubular, and the tail is a short, bald stub encased in leathery skin. They are between {{convert|12|and(-)|16|cm}} long, weigh {{convert|40|to(-)|60|g|oz}}, and are uniformly covered in fairly short, very fine pale cream to white hair with an iridescent golden sheen. Their [[pouch (marsupial)|pouch]] is small but well developed and has evolved to face backwards so it does not fill with sand. It contains just two [[teat]]s, so the animal cannot support more than two young at a time. They are the only marsupials with a true [[cloaca]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gadow |first1=Hans |year=2009 |title=On the Systematic Position of ''Notoryctes typhlops'' |journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=361–433 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1892.tb06835.x}}</ref>

The limbs are very short, with reduced digits. The forefeet have two greatly enlarged, spade shaped, 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. [[Epipubic bone]]s are present but small and as in some other fossorial mammals (e.g., [[armadillo]]s), the last five cervical [[vertebra]]e are fused, giving the head greater rigidity during digging. The animal swims through the soil and does not leave behind a permanent burrow.

The teeth of the marsupial moles are degenerate and bear no resemblance to polyprotodont or diprotodont teeth. Their dental formula varies, but is usually somewhere near <!-- 4-3/3,1/1,2/3,4/4= 40-44 --> {{DentalFormula |upper=4–3.1.2.4 |lower=3.1.3.4 |total=42–44}}. The upper molar teeth are triangular and [[zalambdodont]], i.e., resembling an inverted Greek letter [[lambda]] in occlusal view, and the lower molars appear to have lost their talonid basins.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Notoryctes_caurinus/ |title=Notoryctes caurinus |website=animaldiversity.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Asher RJ, Horovitz I, Martin T, Sanchez-Villagra MR |title=Neither a rodent nor a platypus: a reexamination of Necrolestes patagonensis Ameghino |journal=American Museum Novitates |date=15 Jan 2007 |issue=3546 |pages=1–40 |doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2007)3546[1:NARNAP]2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=83642532 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/5386468 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D. |author=Gordon, Greg |year=1984 |title=The Encyclopedia of Mammals |publisher=Facts on File |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/842 842] |isbn=978-0-87196-871-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/842 }}</ref> Marsupial moles are the only marsupials that are [[Testicondy|testicond]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Vogelnest |first1=Larry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=396VDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT143 |title=Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals |last2=Portas |first2=Timothy |date=2019-05-01 |publisher=Csiro Publishing |isbn=978-1-4863-0753-1 |language=en}}</ref>