Golden moles are small, insectivorous burrowing
mammals native to southern
Africa. They form the family
Chrysochloridae. They are
taxonomically distinct from the
true moles, which they resemble due to
convergence. The golden moles bear a remarkable resemblance to the
marsupial moles of
Australia, so much so that, the
marsupial/
placental divide notwithstanding, arguments were once made that they were related, possibly because they are very primitive placentals and because of the many mole-like specializations.
