Notoryctes, the marsupial mole, now nesting with pouchless Marmosops in the LRT
Notoryctes, the marsupial mole,
(Fig 1) has a small pouch that opens backwards so it does not fill with sand, the medium through which Notoryctes burrows.
Notoryctids extend back to early Miocene of Australia, represented by mandible, humerus and ulna material = Naraboryctes (Archer et al 2017, Fig 3).
Figure 1. Above: Dromiciops. Right: Marmosops lacks a pouch. It is traditionally considered a neotropical (Eastern Brail) opossum, a member of the Didelphidae. Left: Notoryctes the marsupial mole.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg?w=167″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg?w=570″ class=”size-full wp-image-94867″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Above: Dromiciops. Right: Marmosops lacks a pouch. It is traditionally considered a neotropical (Eastern Brail) opossum, a member of the Didelphidae. Left: Notoryctes the marsupial mole. ” width=”584″ height=”1050″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg?w=584&h=1050 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg?w=83&h=150 83w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg?w=167&h=300 167w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dromiciops-marmosops-notoryctes588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Above: Dromiciops. Right: Marmosops lacks a pouch. It is traditionally considered a neotropical (Eastern Brail) opossum, a member of the Didelphidae. Left: Notoryctes the marsupial mole.
Archer 2011 reported,
“it is now clear that archaic burrowing marsupial moles were adapted to and probably originated in wet forest palaeoenvironments, preadapting them to movement through drier soils in the xeric environments of Australia that developed during the Neogene.”
The Archer cladogram nested Notoryctes between Dasyuromorpha and Peramelemorphia. Marmosops was not mentioned in the Archer text.
Figure 2. Marmosops (top) and Notoryctes (below) are close relative in the LRT. Only incomplete transitional taxa are known.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-94856″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Marmosops (top) and Notoryctes (below) are close relative in the LRT. Only incomplete transitional taxa are known.” width=”584″ height=”449″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg?w=584&h=449 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg?w=150&h=115 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg?w=300&h=231 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/marmosops.notoryctes588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Marmosops (top) and Notoryctes (below) are close relative in the LRT. Only incomplete transitional taxa are known. These two likely split during the Cretaceous. The pouch was likely lost and regained, or lost separately by convergence due to phylogenetic niniaturization and neotony.
This hypothetical interrelationship
was among the toughest to recover in the LRT. Complete fossils of transitional taxa would help, but have not yet be recovered.
Figure 3. Naraboryctes compared to the extant and complete Notoryctes.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-94864″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif” alt=”Figure 3. Naraboryctes compared to the extant and complete Notoryctes.” width=”584″ height=”432″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif?w=584&h=432 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif?w=150&h=111 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif?w=300&h=222 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/naraboryctes.dentary.pmx_.gif 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Naraboryctes compared to the extant and complete Notoryctes.
For obvious reasons
the marsupial mole kept nesting in the LRT with the golden mole, Chrysochloris, and I mistakenly reasoned that this was yet another instance of convergent evolution in the development of the placenta.
Now that phylogenetic problem has been resolved.
Even so, better solutions are always better.
When those better solutions appear, they will be added to the LRT.
Marmosops is basically
a tiny = phylogenetically miniaturized Dromiciops (Fig 1). That is probably the reason why the pouch did not develop in these small, precocious and neotonous arboreal opossums.
References
Archer M 2011. Australia’s first fossil marsupial mole (Notoryctemorphia) resolves controversies about their evolution and palaeoenvironmental origins. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences. 278 (1711): 1498–1506.
wiki/Marsupial_mole
wiki/Notoryctidae
wiki/Australidelphia
=wiki/Marmosops
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/notoryctes-the-marsupial-mole-now-nesting-with-pouchless-marmosops-in-the-lrt/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,734,449,583 |
| Stories: | 8,509,190 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
