For the past three years, researchers in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia have been studying the elusive Itjaritjari or Southern Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes typhlops) and now a new project has come on line to assist the research.

The ‘Mole Patrol’, a project funded by Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Management through the Natural Heritage Trust, is aiming to enlist the help of people in the bush to gain a better understanding of these elusive marsupials and their distribution.

According to the Mole Patrol’s Jarrad Holmes, the more we know about the habits and distribution of the rare and endangered marsupial mole, the better we can ensure the conservation of the species.

“We’re relying on volunteers across the sandy desert country to record and report mole sightings so we can get a handle on their distribution,” he said.

“Our Mole Patrol information package includes descriptions and photos of marsupial mole signs and an introduction to the survey techniques available. The package is for people who would like to participate in the Mole Patrol project or for those who would just like to learn some more about marsupial moles.”

Marsupial moles spend almost their entire life underground and are found throughout the sandy desert country of Australia. Even though they leave very distinctive tracks when they do occasionally come to the surface, few records exist for mole sightings, partly because people do not know what mole sign looks like.

About the size of a small rat, the marsupial mole has a shield of horny skin covering the nose and greatly enlarged spade-like claws on its front paws for rapid burrowing through sand. Its thick fur is silky and pale-golden. A backwards-opening pouch is present in both sexes, although it is better developed in the female. The fact that it completely lacks eyes and has only rudimentary ear openings is offset by a well-developed sense of smell which it uses to locate grubs, ants and termites.

Two species of marsupial moles are currently recognised: Itjaritjari or Southern Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes typhlops) from the sandy deserts of central Australia; and Kakarratul or Northern Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes caurinus) from the north-west deserts. They inhabit sand dune and sandy plain country throughout SA, NT, WA, and possibly south-west Qld. Although first described to science over 100 years ago, marsupial moles are so rarely encountered that very little is known about the biology and distribution of either species.

For further information or a Mole Patrol pack, contact the Threatened Species Network, Alice Springs, at either coolabaheco@aol.com or (08) 8952 1541.