Lexi Webster
Bandicoots are found in a wide variety of habitats throughout Australia, including Tasmania, New Guinea, and nearby islands. They are nocturnal, solitary animals that are essential for the ecological well-being of forests. They are also found in backyards across the country, with the most common species being the Long-nosed bandicoot, Northern brown bandicoot, and Southern brown bandicoot. Bandicoots are marsupial mammals, which means they have a pouch that faces backward to protect the young while the mother digs in the soil for food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bandicoot species found in Australia | Long-nosed bandicoot, Northern brown bandicoot, Southern brown bandicoot, Eastern barred bandicoot, Greater bilby, Pig-footed bandicoot |
| Bandicoot habitats in Australia | Throughout Australia in a wide variety of habitats, including coastal areas, forests, and Tasmania. Not found in the arid zone. |
| Bandicoot diet | Insects, larvae, cockroaches, spiders, mice, native fruits, and berries |
| Bandicoot behaviour | Nocturnal, solitary, dig funnel-like pits for food |
| Bandicoot breeding | Can breed year-round, young stay in the mother's pouch for around 50 days, independent at 60 days, ready to breed at six months |
| Bandicoot appearance | Light greyish-brown, long slender nose, coarse hair, hind legs longer than front legs, long sharp claws |
| Bandicoot size | Adult head-body length: 30-43cm, weight: 500-1900gms, tail length: 10-30cm |
| Bandicoot conservation status | Most bandicoot species are endangered or vulnerable, some already extinct |
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What You'll Learn
Bandicoots are found in a variety of habitats across Australia
The most common species of bandicoots found in backyards are the Long-nosed bandicoot, Northern brown bandicoot, and Southern brown bandicoot. The Long-nosed bandicoot is a frequent visitor to gardens around Sydney and is commonly found along the east coast of Australia. It is characterised by grey-brown fur and a white belly. The Northern brown bandicoot, the largest of the bandicoots, is found north of the Hawkesbury River in NSW and has a speckled black and brown coat. The Southern brown bandicoot is found across southern Australia, Tasmania, and in Western Australia, where it is known as the Quenda.
Bandicoots are essential for the ecological well-being of forests and play an important role in maintaining the health of gardens and backyards. They feed on insects, larvae, cockroaches, spiders, and even small mammals like mice. Bandicoots also consume some native fruits and berries, but their diet is primarily protein-based.
While bandicoots have been lost from urban areas and intense agricultural lands, they can still be found in suitable habitats. To encourage bandicoots to inhabit your property, it is recommended to retain or restore native grass and shrubs, restrict livestock access to bushland, and avoid frequent burning.
In addition to Australia, bandicoots are also found in New Guinea and nearby islands, including the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland. They are known to inhabit rainforests and other diverse environments, showcasing their adaptability to various habitats.
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The Long-nosed Bandicoot is common in eastern Australia
Bandicoots are native Australian marsupial mammals that live throughout Australia in a wide variety of habitats. They are known as the gardener's best friend, as they eat insects and other small invertebrates. They are also known for the small, round conical holes they leave behind as they forage at night.
The Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) is one of the most common species of bandicoots found in backyards. It is a frequent visitor to gardens around Sydney and is found commonly along the east coast of Australia, from north Queensland to Victoria and Tasmania. They are about 40 centimetres (16 inches) long, including a tail length of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches), and weigh around 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds). They have grey-brown fur, a white underbelly, and a long snouty nose.
Long-nosed Bandicoots live in forests, woodlands, and heathlands. They are found in rainforests, moist gullies, and grassy woodlands. They benefit from a mix of habitats, including open grassy areas and sheltered spots with undergrowth. They are nocturnal, solitary, and non-climbing. They are also omnivorous and opportunistic, eating plants, animals, and fungi.
Long-nosed Bandicoots are known for their high-pitched squeak when disturbed. They are also known to "grunt" happily when they find food. They have excellent hearing and eyesight. They are also highly active, with a running style described as a "gallop".
While the Long-nosed Bandicoot is not currently endangered, the loss of bushland around suburban areas has reduced their range and distribution, and many populations are locally extinct. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these unique creatures and their habitats, ensuring they thrive for future generations.
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The Southern Brown Bandicoot is found in southern Australia and Tasmania
Bandicoots are found throughout Australia in a wide variety of habitats. They are nocturnal, solitary marsupial mammals, which means they have a pouch. The pouch faces backward, so it doesn't fill with dirt when the female digs for food.
The Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) is found mostly in southern Australia and Tasmania. In Western Australia, a subspecies is called the Quenda. Southern Brown Bandicoots have a stocky body with a short snout and short, rounded ears. They show sexual dimorphism, with females being smaller than males. On average, males measure 50 cm in total length, and weigh up to 1.2 kg, while females measure 40 cm and weigh no more than 1 kg. They have very short, coarse fur that can include a mixture of colours ranging from black and grey to brown and golden yellow.
Southern Brown Bandicoots are found in coastal regions of Victoria, New South Wales, and a small section of the northernmost cusp of Queensland along the coastline. They are also found throughout Tasmania, where they are most common, and are found across almost the entire island. They inhabit open forests, scrub, and heathland, especially where there is extensive ground cover by shrubs or mat-rushes. They prefer scrubby habitats with plenty of low ground cover and shelter, particularly areas recovering from the effects of bushfire. They are also found in northern Queensland, Victoria, southern Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Southern Brown Bandicoots are omnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, worms, plant roots, ferns, and fungi. They are known as the gardener's best friend, as they eat some native fruits and berries but are dependent on protein from a variety of surface and soil-dwelling invertebrates. They are also helpful in maintaining ecosystems, as they displace around 3.9 tonnes of soil each year through their digging behaviour.
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The Northern Brown Bandicoot is found in New South Wales
Bandicoots are found throughout Australia in a wide variety of habitats. They are nocturnal, solitary animals and are native to Australia. Bandicoots are marsupial mammals, which means they have a pouch that faces backward, so it doesn't fill with dirt when the female digs for food.
The Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) is found in New South Wales. It is the largest of the bandicoots and has a speckled black and brown coat. Its range follows the coastline of northern and eastern Australia, as far south as NSW, and it is also found in southern Papua New Guinea. The Northern Brown Bandicoot is now extinct in parts of Queensland and northern NSW. It prefers habitats with dense vegetation to shelter during the day and open areas to forage for food at night. Its diet comprises insects, spiders, earthworms, and other invertebrates, as well as tubers, underground fungi, seeds, and fruits.
The Northern Brown Bandicoot is found at Fan Palm, Yourka, and Carnarvon Station reserves (all in Queensland). Conservation efforts at these reserves include removing sheep and cattle, undertaking feral herbivore control, and carefully planned low-intensity burns to reduce damage to vegetation and control invasive weeds.
The distribution of the Northern Brown Bandicoot has decreased significantly since European settlement, mainly due to vegetation clearing, the introduction of foxes and cats, and changes to the frequency of bushfires. While the Northern Brown Bandicoot is not endangered, the loss of bushland around suburban areas means that many populations are locally extinct.
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The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is found in Tasmania
Bandicoots are native Australian marsupials that live throughout Australia in a wide variety of habitats. They are known as the gardener's best friend as they eat insects, larvae, cockroaches, spiders, and even mice. They are also known to eat some native fruits and berries. Bandicoots are protected as they are native Australian animals.
The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) is a nocturnal, rabbit-sized marsupial native to southeastern Australia and the island of Tasmania. It is one of three surviving bandicoot species in the genus Perameles. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is easily distinguished from other bandicoots by the three or four dark horizontal bars on its rump. In Tasmania, it is relatively abundant. The Tasmanian form is larger than the mainland form, with an average adult mass of 1000 grams, compared to 750 grams in Victoria.
The Eastern Barred Bandicoot was once distributed across the basalt plains of southwest Victoria. However, due to predation by introduced foxes and cats, as well as land-clearing for farming practices, the Victorian subspecies is now critically endangered. Since 1989, eight reintroduction sites have been established across the bandicoot's former range, and a recovery team oversees actions aimed at conserving the Victorian subspecies. The conservation of Eastern Barred Bandicoots in Victoria depends on the success of captive breeding and reintroduction programs.
Eastern Barred Bandicoots have been successfully released on several islands in Victoria's Westernport, including Phillip Island, French Island, and Churchill Island. They inhabit grasslands and grassy woodlands and can be found in mainland enclosures such as Mount Rothwell, Hamilton Community Parkland, and Woodlands Historic Park. The conservation status of the Victorian species has improved, changing from "extinct in the wild" to "endangered" due to the population increase from 150 to 1,500 individuals over thirteen years.
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Frequently asked questions
Bandicoots are found in a wide variety of habitats throughout Australia, including Tasmania and New Guinea. They are not found in the arid zone.
Long-nosed bandicoots are found commonly along the east coast of Australia. They are also found inhabiting an iconic Sydney headland.
Southern brown bandicoots are found in northern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, southern Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Northern brown bandicoots are found north of the Hawkesbury River in NSW and in south-east Queensland.
