Notoryctidae

Notoryctidae is a small family of marsupials commonly known as marsupial moles. Endemic to Australia, they are highly specialized fossorial mammals that spend most of their lives underground and are seldom seen except by researchers. The family contains a single genus, Notoryctes, with two described species: Notoryctes caurinus, the northern marsupial mole, and Notoryctes typhlops, the southern marsupial mole.

Notoryctids have elongated, shovel-like snouts, tiny eyes hidden beneath skin, and small external ears. Their forelimbs are robust and equipped with enlarged digging claws, while the hind limbs are less developed. The body is streamlined and covered with dense, velvety fur; the tail is short. Sensory systems are adapted to subterranean life, with a highly sensitive snout and facial bristles aiding tactile navigation.

They inhabit loose soil and sandy substrates in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia, constructing extensive burrow systems. They feed on soil invertebrates, including termites and beetle larvae, detected mainly by touch and chemical cues rather than by sight. Surface activity occurs primarily after rainfall, when the soil becomes moistened and tunnels are more navigable.

As marsupials, Notoryctes give birth to underdeveloped young that complete development in the mother's pouch. Because of their cryptic lifestyle, reproductive biology is not well documented, and many details remain uncertain.

Notoryctidae is placed in the order Notoryctemorphia, a distinct and highly specialized marsupial lineage. The evolutionary history of the group is not fully resolved, but molecular data suggest an ancient divergence from other marsupials. Due to their subterranean habits, data on populations and conservation are limited, and assessments are infrequent.