Unexpectedly caught: a rare marsupial mole was photographed in Australia

Marsupial mole/BBC

The northern marsupial mole, or kakarratul, lives in one of the most remote parts of Australia. It is so elusive that the country's authorities do not even know how many exist.

In Australia, an extremely rare marsupial mole was spotted and photographed. The BBC writes about it.

These moles are the size of a palm. They have silky golden fur, a stubby tail, and flipper-like feet. They also have no eyes. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, these animals have an interesting life cycle: one period they are intensely active, and the next they suddenly fall asleep.

Usually marsupial moles only happen to humans a few times a decade. They live in sand dunes in isolated deserts and spend very little time on the surface.

Marsupial mole/KJ RANGERS

This time the rangers of the Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Martu organization came across the mole while working in the Great Sandy Desert, located approximately 1,500 kilometers from of the city of Perth.

The search process involves finding their tiny footprints, which are difficult to see in the sand. The animal was initially mistaken for a baby guinea pig, wildlife expert Gareth Catt said. He claims that, despite the common prejudice about poor fauna in deserts, this area is full of unique creatures.