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Traits:
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Cells have DNA
Cells have a nucleus in them
Cells have mitochondria
Multicellular
Cells are held together with collagen.
Sexual reproduction
 Early embryo forms as a hollow ball of cells called a blastula
 This blastula opens into a tube “tail end first”
 Has a head and is bilaterally symmetrical (you can draw one line down the middle)
 Cells organize themselves into true tissues (muscle, nerves)
 Cells organize themselves into true organs (heart, liver, stomach)
 Has a hollow space between the gut and outer body wall where organs are (this space is
called a coelem—pronounced “see-lome”
 Segmented body
 Internal bony skeleton
 Backbone, Spinal chord and braincase
 Had jaws
 Enamel teeth
 Had lungs
 Had paired appendages
 Had four legs
 Amniotic eggs laid internally
 Marsupial pouch
 Nurses young
 One opening in the side of the skull at the temple
 Three middle ear bones
A3.21 Notoryctes typhlops (southern digger)
 Has lost eyes and external ears
Physical characteristics: The southern marsupial mole, sometimes called the greater marsupial mole or just the marsupial mole, has a total head and body
length of 3.5 to 7 inches (9 to 18 centimeters) and a 1-inch (2-centimeter) tail. It weighs about 1.2 to 2.5 ounces (35 to 70 grams). Southern marsupial moles have
short legs, spade-like claws on the front feet, and flat nose shields. They also lack eyes and external ears.
Geographic range: Southern marsupial moles are found in Western Australia, the southern Northern Territory, and northwestern South Australia. The northern
part of its range may overlap with the range of the northern marsupial mole.
Habitat: Southern marsupial moles live underground in sandy plains and sand ridges.
Diet: This species eats mostly insects and insect larvae.
Behavior and reproduction: Marsupial moles "swim" rapidly through sand, living most of their lives underground. They appear to live alone. Almost nothing is
known about their reproductive pattern.
Southern marsupial moles and people: Southern marsupial moles have little practical value to humans, but they are a symbol of the rare and unusual animals
of Australia. Their bodies are an excellent example of adaptation to their environment.
Conservation status: These moles have been listed as Endangered, facing a very high risk of extinction, even though little is known about their abundance. It
appears, however, as if their numbers are declining. One reason may be compacting of the soil they live in by vehicles or livestock.
http://animals.jrank.org/pages/2651/Marsupial-Moles-Notoryctemorphia-SOUTHERN-MARSUPIAL-MOLE-Notoryctes-typhlops-SPECIES-ACCOUNT.html 3/16/08