Perameles nasuta
Description
Adult long-nosed bandicoots are about the same size as a rabbit and are grey in colour. Their resemblance to a rabbit is reinforced by the fact that they have longish pointed ears, and move with a hopping action. However, they have a notably long point nose and a long thin tail. The long-nosed bandicoot is the only one common in Sydney.
Distribution
Long-nosed bandicoots are mostly located along the east coast of Australia. In Sydney they are mainly found along the northern beaches.
Habits and Habitat
Bandicoots live in a variety of environments, although they prefer to nest in leaf-lined holes
under cover such as tussocky grasses where they can hide from predators, which are mainly feral animals.
They eat a variety things including worms, insects, succulent plants and fungi that they dig up using their nose. they frequently
leave behind mounds of dirt where they have been digging overnight. Although bandicoots
hop, they can be stopped by a relatively low wall/fence that should be at least 50cm high
and buried 150cm deep, with gaps of less than 20mm.
Links and References
Ronald Strahan ed. (2002), "The Mammals of Australia", Australian Museum/Reed New Holland
National Parks and Wildlife Service