Long-nosed bandicoot
The long-nosed bandicoot, also known as the long-nosed bilby, is a small marsupial native to Australia, characterized by its rabbit-like size and a unique appearance reminiscent of both a shrew and a kangaroo. Typically measuring around 16 inches (40 centimeters) in length, with a 5.5-inch (14-centimeter) tail, they have a light grayish-brown fur that is coarse and sleek, without any distinct markings. These omnivorous creatures primarily forage for insects, larvae, roots, and small rodents, using their powerful claws and long snouts to knead food into a pulp before consumption.
Long-nosed bandicoots inhabit open plains, grasslands, and wooded areas, often living near human settlements in undergrowth or drainpipes. They are generally solitary and territorial, except during mating, and exhibit brief maternal connections with their young. Breeding can occur year-round, with a short gestation period of about 12 days, resulting in litters typically averaging two to three offspring. Despite facing natural predators such as dingoes and domestic animals, the long-nosed bandicoot is not currently considered a threatened species and can live up to five years in the wild.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Long-nosed bandicoot
Long-nosed bandicoots are the size of rabbits and resemble a cross between a shrew and a kangaroo. They gather insects and other things from the ground and knead them into a pulp before eating. They are also called long-nosed bilbies. Long-nosed bandicoots are found in Australia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Peramelemorphia
Family: Peramelidae
Genus: Perameles
Species: Nasuta
The long-nosed bandicoot inhabits the open plains, cleared grasslands, and wooded areas along the coast of Australia. They may also live in the undergrowth and in drainpipes near human settlements. They average 16 inches (40 centimeters) long, with tails around 5 1/2 inches (14 centimeters) long, and weigh about 3 1/3 pounds (1 1/2 kilograms). Their fur is light grayish brown, coarse, and sleek. They have no markings, unlike other bandicoots. With powerful claws, long, tapered snouts, and sharp teeth, the bandicoots forage for insects, larvae, grubs, roots and tubers, and small rodents such as mice. This diet of both meat and plants makes the long-nosed bandicoot an omnivore. Any food they find, they knead or press it into a pulp before they eat it.
The long-nosed bandicoots must beware of dingoes, domestic cats and dogs, snakes, and foxes. They are able to defend themselves with teeth and claws or to run fast and outmaneuver predators to reach their sheltered nest on the ground.
The social habits of bandicoots have been little-studied, but it is known that the long-nosed bandicoots are territorial and solitary (live alone) except when mating. Also, the mother and young do not appear to form permanent bonds. The long-nosed bandicoots breed at any time throughout the year. Gestation (the duration of pregnancy) is around 12 days. Litter size is from one to seven, the average being two to three. After around 60 days, the young leave their mother's pouch and are weaned 10 days later. They are mature in about three to six months.
The life span of bandicoots is around five years. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
Adam, Ryan. “ADW: Perameles Nasuta: Information.” Animal Diversity Web, 2015, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Perameles‗nasuta. Accessed 11 May 2024.
“Long-Nosed Bandicoot.” Australian Museum, 21 Apr. 2022, australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/long-nosed-bandicoot. Accessed 11 May 2024.