Southern Brown Bandicoot
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© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
- NSW Conservation Status
- Endangered species
-
Classification
- Genus
- Isoodon
- Species
- obesulus
- Family
- Peramelidae
- Order
- Peramelemorphia
- Subclass
- Marsupialia
- Class
- Mammalia
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 28 cm - 36 cm
The Southern Brown Bandicoot is listed as an endangered species in New South Wales and is known from only two areas.
Habitat
The Southern Brown Bandicoot prefers scrubby habitats with plenty of low ground cover and shelter, particularly areas recovering from the effects of bushfire.
Distribution
The Southern Brown Bandicoot is found in northern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, southern Western Australia and Tasmania. In New South Wales, one population is found on the south coast and the other just north of Sydney.
Feeding and diet
By day, the Southern Brown Bandicoot sleeps in a nest made from grasses and other plant material, and at night emerges to feed on a variety of insects, earthworms and plants.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Southern Brown Bandicoot is solitary. Males and females establish home ranges, which vary considerably in size depending on the habitat and the individual.
Conservation status
The distribution of the Southern Brown Bandicoot has decreased significantly since European settlement mainly as a result of vegetation clearing, introduced foxes and cats, and changes to the frequency of bushfires.The Southern Brown Bandicoot is listed as an endangered species in New South Wales and is known from only two areas.
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