Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)

MammalMarsupialBurrower

Overview

The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a striking burrowing marsupial of arid Australia, easily recognised by its very long, rabbit-like ears, soft blue-grey fur, a pointed snout, and a long black-and-white tail. A type of bandicoot, the bilby is superbly adapted to desert life: it digs deep spiral burrows for shelter from heat and predators and is active at night.

By constantly digging for food and shelter, bilbies turn over and aerate the soil, making them important “ecosystem engineers” whose burrows also benefit many other animals.

Conservation note: the greater bilby is Vulnerable and has disappeared from much of its former range; a second species, the lesser bilby, is extinct. Verify current status at iucnredlist.org.

Habitat & Range

The greater bilby lives in arid and semi-arid Australia — deserts, dry shrublands, and grasslands — where it digs burrows in a range of soils. It once ranged across much of the continent but is now restricted to scattered areas, with fenced reserves and reintroduction sites helping to protect surviving populations.

Diet

Bilbies are omnivores with a varied desert diet: insects and their larvae, seeds, bulbs, fruit, fungi, and small animals. They find much of their food underground, digging it up with strong claws, and they get most of the moisture they need from their food — an important adaptation to dry country where free water is scarce.

Behavior

Bilbies are nocturnal and largely solitary, sheltering by day in deep burrows that can spiral down well below the surface, keeping them cool and safe. They dig almost constantly while foraging, and a single bilby may use several burrows. Females have a backward-opening pouch — practical for a digging animal, as it keeps soil out. This near-constant digging is what makes bilbies such valuable turners of desert soil.

Human Interaction & Conservation

The bilby is a much-loved Australian icon, even promoted as a native alternative to the Easter bunny to raise conservation awareness. It declined severely after European settlement due to introduced predators (foxes and cats), competition and habitat change from rabbits and livestock, and altered fire regimes. Recovery efforts include predator-proof reserves, reintroductions, and Indigenous-led land management. Consult the IUCN Red List for current status.

More photos of the bilby