Uropsilus scoricipes (Milne-Edwards 1871; Hoffmann 1984, central China) is the extant shrew-mole, long considered the link between shrews and moles. Here Uropsilus nests between the marsupial moles, like Notoryctes, and the golden mole, Chrysochloris (below). Note the lack of canines, deep premaxilla and arched jugal.

Chrysochloris asiatica (Cape golden mole, Linneus 1758, extant, 8-20 cm in length) nests with the marsupial, Notoryctes in the LRT, thereby developing a placenal mode of reproduction convergent with the two other placental origins. A Middle Jurassic ancestor, Docofossor, was also a digger.

The golden mole has taken to a life underground, with reduced ears and eyes, large fore claws and enormous shoulder muscles. Note the displacement of the scapulae to the top of the neck. The pisiform evolves to become a second ulna. The golden mole third ungual is large, sharp and split. The other digits are reduced. Digit 5 is a vestige. The lateral temporal fenestra and the jaw adductors therein, have been squeezed out as the squamosal laminates to the cranium.

Like tenrecs, golden moles had a cloaca (combined anus and genitals), and lack a scrotum, but golden moles are not closely related to tenrecs in the LRT.