Southern marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops), family Notoryctidae

Taxonomy and evolutionary history

Taxonomy

The southern marsupial mole was commonly accepted as Notoryctes typhlops (Stirling, 1889).

There are no subspecies recognised. Benshemesh (2004) reported unpublished studies that demonstrate some morphological and genetic variation between southern and northern “forms” of N. typhlops; the taxonomic implications, if any, of this differentiation are unresolved.

Evolutionary history

Marsupial moles comprise their own unique marsupial order, the Notoryctemorphia, which may have branched off from other lineages as much as 64 million years ago (Kirsch et al., 1997). For some time it was thought that there was a single species of marsupial mole. Two species of Notoryctes are now recognised but recent morphological and genetic research is yet to be published.

References:

Benshemesh, J. (2004). Recovery Plan for Marsupial Moles Notoryctes typhlops and N. caurinus. 2005-2010. Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Alice Springs. Available on the Internet at:http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/marsupial- moles.html.

Kirsch, J. A. W., Lapointe, F.-J. , and Springer, M. S. (1997). DNA-hybridisation studies of marsupials and their implications for metatherian classification. Australian Journal of Zoology 45:211-280.