This is a strange-looking creature that people usually encounter only 5-10 times each decade.
Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, an Indigenous ranger organization in Australia, recently discovered and photographed a rare blind mole about which scientists know very little.
This marsupial mole was found in Martu Country, an area in the northern part of Western Australia. This land belongs to the Martu people, a group of various Indigenous Australian communities.
Rarely seen blind mole. (Photo: Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa/X)
Rangers in the area were surprised to encounter the blind mole, marking the second sighting of this creature within just six months. Typically, these blind moles are seen only 5 to 10 times each decade.
The blind mole is also known as Kakarrarturl, a marsupial with underdeveloped eyes. It has a smooth fur coat and long claws protruding from its front feet, which aid in digging for insects and worms.
The northern blind moles are about 10 cm long, while their southern relatives, also marsupial moles, are slightly longer, measuring around 18 cm.
In an article published in Australian Geographic, Joe Benshemesh, an expert and researcher on marsupial moles at the National Malleefowl Recovery Group, stated that they have evolved to withstand the harsh temperatures of the desert.
Explaining why this creature is rarely seen, Benshemesh noted that blind moles spend most of their time underground, only occasionally surfacing for brief periods.
According to Benshemesh, weighing only 40-60 grams, the blind marsupial mole does not require much oxygen. They only need to breathe the air flowing between the grains of sand.
There is still much to learn about this creature, and researchers are excited when they appear.
Previously, the last sighting of a marsupial mole occurred in 2023, near the Uluru area in Central Australia.
