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The article unearth the secrets of the itjaritjari. First recorded by Westerners in the late 1800s, the mole, often referred to by its Aboriginal name itjaritjari, caused a stir in zoological circles with its unusual features. At no more than 14 centimetres long, its tubular body fits into the palm of the hand. It lacks eyes and has only tiny holes for ears. And its short, cream-coloured fur, spade-like front claws and a backwards-facing pouch give it an unearthly appearance. Little is known about this creature because the itjaritjari rarely surfaces, making observation in the wild virtually impossible. All specimens caught live have died within weeks in captivity for reasons that remain unclear.