FaunaHub

Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

MammalMarsupialOmnivore

Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta), a pointed-snouted marsupial, foraging.

Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta).

Image: Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Bandicoots are small, ground-dwelling marsupials of Australia and New Guinea, recognised by their long pointed snouts, compact bodies, large hind feet, and short tails. The long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta), shown here, is a familiar eastern-Australian example. Bandicoots belong to the same broad group (order Peramelemorphia) as the bilby, and like it they are constant, energetic diggers.

By digging countless small foraging holes, bandicoots turn over soil and help keep their habitats healthy — quiet but valuable members of their ecosystems.

Note: there are many bandicoot species with differing status and habits; details here use the long-nosed bandicoot as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Bandicoots occupy a range of habitats across Australia and New Guinea — rainforest, woodland, heath, shrubland, and grassy areas, including suburban gardens for some species. The long-nosed bandicoot favours areas with ground cover for shelter and open patches for foraging, and shelters by day in nests of leaf litter.

Diet

Bandicoots are omnivores. They eat insects and their larvae, earthworms, other invertebrates, and fungi, along with some plant material such as seeds, roots, and fruit. They find much of this food underground, sniffing it out and digging characteristic small conical holes with their strong claws.

Behavior

Bandicoots are mostly nocturnal and solitary, foraging at night and resting by day in concealed nests. Their distinctive snuffling, digging foraging leaves tell-tale holes across lawns and bushland. Bandicoots are notable for an exceptionally short pregnancy — among the shortest of any mammal — after which the tiny young develop in a backward-opening pouch (handy for a digging animal, as it keeps out soil).

Human Interaction & Conservation

Some bandicoots adapt to gardens and are familiar to suburban Australians, while several species have declined or vanished from parts of their range due to habitat loss and introduced predators such as foxes and cats. A number are now threatened and the focus of conservation work. Their digging benefits soil and plants. Consult the IUCN Red List and Australian authorities for species-specific status.

More photos of the bandicoot

A long-nosed bandicoot showing its grey-brown fur and long snout.

Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta).

Image: Joseph C Boone, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Bandicoot

Is a bandicoot related to the bilby?
Yes. Bandicoots and bilbies belong to the same order of marsupials (Peramelemorphia). The bilby is essentially a long-eared, desert-adapted member of this group, and like bandicoots it is a dedicated digger with a backward-opening pouch.
Why are there small holes in my lawn?
In parts of Australia, neat little conical holes in lawns and garden beds are often the work of foraging bandicoots digging for insects, larvae, and other food in the soil. The digging is generally harmless and even helps aerate the soil and control some pests.
What do bandicoots eat?
Bandicoots are omnivores. They eat insects and their larvae, earthworms, other invertebrates, and fungi, plus some seeds, roots, and fruit. Much of their food is dug from underground, which is why they leave small foraging holes behind.
Are bandicoots endangered?
It varies by species. Some bandicoots remain reasonably common, including in suburban areas, but several have declined or disappeared from parts of their range because of habitat loss and introduced predators, and a number are now threatened. Status should be checked against current IUCN Red List assessments.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.