Bandicoot animal. Bandicoot (marsupial badger). Rabbit Bandicoot Habitat: Australia

This bilby, aka - rabbit bandicoot, or long-eared marsupial badger, or common bilby (lat. Macrotis lagotis) - species marsupial mammals from the rabbit bandicoot family (Thylacomyidae).

Lives in Australia. It feeds on insects, larvae and rodents. Breeds in autumn. The offspring are small (1-2 cubs). It has beautiful long silky fur, the trade of which, in addition to low fertility, has led to the scarcity of this species.

Bilbies are distinguished from other bandicoots by their long, silky bluish-gray fur, very long, rabbit-like ears, and also a long, well-furred tail; the very tip of the tail is hairless, and the entire tail is sharply two-colored (black at the base and white at the tip).

The molars are large, in adults - with a completely smooth concave surface; in this they differ from the sharp-tubercated native bandicoots. In terms of their lifestyle, bilbies are also different from all other members of the family: they dig deep burrows, consume large amounts of meat food and lead night look life. It is almost equal in size to an adult rabbit, which is why it is sometimes called a bilby rabbit.

The bilby sleeps in a strange position: crouched on its hind legs and with its muzzle tucked between its front legs. The bilby has a mixed diet: it eats insects and their larvae, as well as small mammals, such as mice. Its fangs are strong, like those of cats, and the animal can strongly bite someone who carelessly touches it.

Otherwise, he is not at all aggressive towards humans. Hunts at night, mainly using smell and hearing; vision is poorly developed. Bilbies live in pairs, each pair in their own burrow. Reproduction occurs in autumn (March to May). In contrast to real rabbits, bilbies are not fertile: usually there are no more than one or two young in a brood, although the female has 8 teats on the milky field. The bag opens down and back.

Nora - best protection bilby To dig, the bilby uses its front paws with wide claws and the bare tip of its tail, which it uses to level the dirt that accumulates behind it. The burrow quickly spirals downwards to a depth of 1.5 m and even deeper. There is no second outlet. The animal lives in the very depths of the hole, and it is difficult to remove it from there. If, having established that the bilby is in a hole, you begin to tear it apart with a shovel, then the bilby also digs in the opposite direction with such speed that it is impossible to catch it.

Aboriginal people value the pelt and skin of the bilby. His black and white tail is theirs favorite decoration. At the beginning of colonization, the bilby was widespread in the southern half Australian mainland. Probably, the aborigines, even before the arrival of Europeans, partially exterminated this infertile animal.

Over the last hundred years, its range has especially decreased, as the fight against rabbits (traps, poisoned baits) has simultaneously undermined the bilby's numbers.

The fox brought to Australia also actively destroys it. Bilby skins were at one time traded in Adelaide markets. The bilby has now disappeared from all populated areas, with the exception of the south-western part of Western Australia. In addition, it is rarely found in semi-deserts, which are unsuitable for its existence.

Interesting fact:

The Australian Mint released the fourth coin in its stunningly beautiful Australian Bush Babies series in January 2011, featuring a bilby. Previously released coins were dedicated to the baby kangaroo, sugar glider and dingo.

On the obverse of the coins there is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, “ELISABETH II AUSTRALIA 2010”. The reverse features a beautiful little bilby with sparkling eyes in color. Artist Elise Martinson was able to convey the innocence and tenderness of the little creature in such a way that it is impossible to tear yourself away from the coin. The reverse background reflects the features of the bilby's habitat and the features of the “friendly” Australian insects.

Body length rabbit bandicoots varies from 30 to 55cm. Weight ranges from 1 to 2.5 kg.

Habitat rabbit bandicoots: Australia.

Appearance
Rabbit Bandicoot - a small animal, similar to an ordinary rabbit. Its body is densely covered with soft, fluffy fur of gray or sand color. This baby has an elongated muzzle and long ears. Thanks to its strong forelimbs with powerful and sharp claws, the animal digs holes and extracts food even from sand dried up by the scorching sun. These inhabitants of sunny Australia see poorly, but this is compensated by their excellent hearing and sense of smell.
Lifestyle and nutrition
live rabbit bandicoots in the heart of the desert, inhabiting sandy plains with little vegetation. They build complex tunnels, at least ten in number per individual, so that in case of danger they can quickly hide and save their lives. The exit from the hole is most often hidden in bushes or under trampled grass. They are active mainly at night, and during the day they sleep in their deep gorges, having previously covered the entrance with sand. Eating rabbit bandicoots plant and animal food. Their diet consists of various grasses, grains, leaves, insects and small mammals.
Reproduction and lifespan
Breeding season rabbit bandicoots falls mainly from March to May, but this frame may change. The female's pregnancy lasts 12-15 days, and as a result, 1-3 relatively large cubs are born. They stay in the mother's pouch for 2.5 months and then for about two more weeks in the nest. All this time, babies feed on mother's milk. The lifespan of these animals in natural conditions is unknown; in captivity, with proper care, they live about 8 years.

Bandicoots are small marsupials that somewhat resemble rats. They are found in Australia and New Guinea. Their habitats vary from deserts to rain forests. Sometimes they settle not far from human habitation.

In total, in the order of bandicoots, or, as they are also called, marsupial badgers (Peramelemorphia), there are about 20 species in 7 genera:

• Long-nosed bandicoots (3 species of the genus Perameles)

• Short-nosed (3 species of the genus Isoodon)

• Pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus)

• Bibli (2 species of the genus Mactoris)

• New Guinea (2 species of the genus Peroryctes)
• Mouse-like (3 species of the genus Microperoryctes)
• Spiny bandicoots (5 species of the genus Echymipera)

• Ceram bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum)

In New Guinea different types They are found at different altitudes: some live in the lowlands, others are common at altitudes of up to 2000 meters. Thus, long-tailed, mouse-like and New Guinea marsupial badgers are high-altitude species that prefer to live at altitudes above 1000 meters. Large, giant and most spiny ones, on the contrary, live in the lowlands.

The marsupial badger is an animal the size of a rabbit or slightly smaller. The body length of the smallest species - mouse-like bandicoots does not exceed 25 cm. The length of the same large species– giant – can reach 60 cm. The animals weigh, depending on the species, from 150 grams to 5 kilograms.

Their body is stocky, dense, with a short neck, a pointed muzzle, ears, depending on the species, can be small and round or elongated and pointed. Relatively small eyes are very sensitive to daylight.

The limbs are short, the front paws are three-toed with strong claws.

The hairline is most often short and coarse; in some New Guinea species it is hard and prickly. Only the greater bilby has longer, silkier fur.

The tail is usually middle length and covered with sparse hair; only a few species can boast long and bushy tails.

The color of the back is bluish-gray or brown, the belly is lighter. Several dark transverse stripes are often visible on the cross.

Bandicoots are distinguished from other marsupials by their fused toes on their hind feet, which form a comb for cleaning their fur.

Lifestyle of marsupial badgers

These terrestrial animals are active at night, but during the day they sleep in their nests, which mainly consist of piled litter with a chamber inside. The Tasmanian bandicoot, for example, has several types of nests, the most complex of which is a dug hole with litter and a roof: such a nest is used during the breeding season.

Bandicoots prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, and only meet with the opposite sex to continue their family line.

Each individual has its own habitat, and the territory occupied by males is approximately 2 times larger than the territory occupied by females. The areas of both sexes overlap greatly. Males patrol their territory every night in search of females and to detect and drive away other male competitors. Many species have scent glands behind their ears, which they use to mark soil and vegetation.

Vocalization

Marsupial badgers rarely make loud sounds, but they can click their teeth - this is how they warn the enemy. The long-nosed bandicoot makes a sharp, squeaking danger signal. If the animal is disturbed at night, it sneezes loudly. He apparently does this in order to clear his nose from the ground.

Diet

Bandicoots are omnivores. They eat insects, invertebrates, fruits, tubers, seeds, etc. Most their diet consists of food from the soil surface. Sometimes animals look for food in the ground by smell, and then dig it out with their strong claws.

Reproduction

Bandicoots are famous for their high reproductive rate. Their life cycle aimed at reproduction large quantity cubs with a minimum of maternal care, and in this respect they are similar to rodents. A high rate of reproduction is achieved due to a short pregnancy, rapid development cubs in the pouch, early sexual maturity and rapid replacement of broods in females.

For example, the cubs of a large bandicoot are carried by their mother for only 12 days. The length of the newborn is about 1 cm and the weight is 0.2 grams. The baby climbs into the mother's pouch and attaches to the nipple. The bag, which opens to the back, has a total of 8 nipples. The cubs grow by expanding the pouch forward along the mother's abdomen. There are 2-3 cubs in a brood.

The young leave the pouch at the age of 50 days, and after another 10 days the mother stops feeding the offspring with milk. Already at the age of three months, marsupial badgers can reach sexual maturity.

Females are polycyclic and, under suitable conditions, can reproduce throughout the year. Mating can occur when the previous brood is already ready for life outside the pouch.

Conservation in nature

The pig-footed, desert and rabbit bandicoots were recently listed as endangered. Several other species are now endangered.

Australian bandicoots have suffered more than other marsupial groups. Even those species that survived survived in small populations that remain under threat of extinction. The disappearance of these animals occurred as a result of mass grazing cattle and the settlement of rabbits, which led to changes in soil cover.

Only some species living in areas with increased moisture (long-nosed, great and small marsupial badgers) can be considered preserved. But even these species are threatened by habitat changes.

In contact with

The rabbit bandicoot is another representative of marsupial mammals living in sunny Australia. But, like many representatives of this infraclass of mammals, bandicoots have already become rare animals and are strictly protected by the laws of the country.

In the genus of rabbit bandicoots, there are only 2 species: the rabbit bandicoot itself (lat. Macrotis lagotis) and the small rabbit bandicoot (lat. Macrotis leucura).

The habitat of these two species does not overlap. The former inhabits small populations in south-west Queensland and southern Western and South Australia. The second species settled in central regions mainland.

These animals are found in areas with different natural landscapes, ranging from semi-desert areas with their sparse shrubby vegetation to dense tropical forests with wetlands (the latter is more relevant to New Guinea species).

Like many marsupials, they live in makeshift burrows, the length of which can reach 1.8 meters. The exit from the burrow is most often located in an inconspicuous place, for example in bushes, under a termite mound or under trampled grass. There is only one entrance and exit, so in moments of danger, bandicoots have to urgently break through a new exit. Thanks to strong front paws powerful claws for them it is not difficult. Since these are nocturnal animals and also live in burrows, they see poorly. But poor eyesight This is more than compensated by excellent hearing and sense of smell.

Outwardly, bandicoots resemble large rats, but only with an elongated cone-shaped muzzle. The ears are large, like a hare's. Body length varies from 20 to 45 centimeters (depending on the species). Plus, a tail 12-22 centimeters long is added to this.

The hair is thick and soft. The color is most often brown-gray or just gray, the belly is off-white.

The hind limbs have a pair of fused toes that form one big one, but with two claws. Animals most often use these claws as combs for their skin.

Bandicoots or bilbies are omnivores. They feed on insects and their larvae, small lizards, various roots, bulbs, seeds and mushrooms. Therefore, a fairly large area of ​​their home area is strewn with small holes.

The breeding season for bilbies begins in March and lasts until May. But in dry areas, these time frames can change, as everything depends on rainfall and food availability. Pregnancy lasts 12-13 days. The female brings from 1 to 3 cubs, although there are 8 teats in her brood pouch.

Female bandicoots are characterized by the formation of a unique placenta. Therefore, the cubs of these marsupials are born relatively large and grow quickly. The female carries them in a pouch for about 2.5 months. Throughout this period they feed on mother's milk. Then the children leave their cozy nest and spend another 2 weeks in the nest, where the female still continues to feed them with milk. After which they become quite independent.

Rabbit bandicoots are marsupial animals that live in the warm lands of Australia.

They are very rare, so catching them is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. These little ones are also called long-eared badgers or bilbies.

The favorite area for bandicoots to live is southwest Queensland, South part Western and South Australia. Less commonly, this animal settles in small populations in the center of the continent.

The terrain does not play a special role for the bandicoot. It can be found both in semi-deserts with little vegetation, and in dense tropical forests, where wetlands are often found (mostly related to New Guinea species).

Bandicoots live in long holes, the depth of which can be 1.5-2 meters. The entrance to the hole is well camouflaged by bushes or grass. There is only one hole for entry and exit, and if predators enter the hole, the bandicoot must quickly dig a new exit in order to escape. Due to the large and strong front paws with huge claws, escape is not difficult. The bandicoot's vision is very poor, since it is active mainly at night, and also lives in burrows. But this is compensated by an excellent sense of smell and hearing.

Bandicoots are similar in appearance to rats, only their muzzle is more cone-shaped and elongated. Their ears are long, like a hare's.

Bandicoots can reach 25-50 centimeters in length, plus a small tail: 10-12 centimeters.

The bandicoot's fur is soft and very thick (it is in great demand on the market), often brown-gray, and white in the belly area.

On the hind legs there are two thumbs, which are connected into one with two claws. The bandicoot uses them as combs for his fur.

The bandicoot eats everything. The diet includes insects, small lizards, plant roots, seeds and even mushrooms. It is not difficult to guess where the bandicoot feeds, since in search of food it covers quite large territory small holes.

Bandicoots breed between March and May. However, these periods can vary significantly depending on food conditions and precipitation that brings life-giving moisture. The female carries the cubs for two weeks. From 1 to 3 bandicoot babies can be born, although the mother has 8 milk nipples in her pouch.

The female bandicoot has a peculiar placenta, which allows the cubs to be born large and develop quickly. After birth, the cubs live in their mother’s pouch for another 2.5 months. All this time, their main food is mother's milk. After leaving the pouch, the cubs live in a special nest for about two weeks, and the mother feeds them with milk. After this the time comes independent life. They begin to eat regular food and leave the hole more often.