Download Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)

 Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)
Conservation Status NATIONAL: Vulnerable (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Victoria: Threatened (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988) Description The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is a rabbit sized marsupial with a long pointed nose, yellowish brown fur and four pale bars across the hindquarters. It has a body length of about 300 mm, a tail about 110 mm long, and weighs on average about 800 g. It has long clawed forefeet that are used to dig for food. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is generally solitary. It rests during the day in grass-­‐
lined nests it constructs, becoming active at twilight and night. Home range varies, with males occupying up to 20 ha and females up to four ha. Habitat On mainland Australia the original native habitat was primarily native perennial tussock grasslands with scattered open woodlands and shrub cover, particularly along watercourses. In recent years the Eastern Barred Bandicoot has survived in highly modified habitats such as tree plantations, farmland, gardens, parklands, a rubbish tip and a cemetery, areas often dominated by weed species such as European gorse and spiny rush. The key feature of these sites seems to have been areas of dense cover adjacent to suitable feeding habitat. Distribution Once common across south-­‐eastern Australia, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot has now virtually disappeared from the wild on the mainland and only exists in reasonable numbers in Tasmania. On the mainland the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is critically endangered. Numbers have declined drastically down to only a single, naturally occurring population of about 5 animals. This population could be described as functionally extinct. Diet The Eastern Barred Bandicoot mainly eats soil surface and sub-­‐surface invertebrates such as earthworms, beetles, field crickets and caterpillars as well as some plant material, including bulbs and fruit. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot does not need to drink as it can obtain sufficient water from its food. Breeding The Eastern Barred Bandicoot usually lives only two-­‐three years in the wild. However it has a high reproductive rate. In favourable conditions, a single female is capable of producing three (sometimes more) litters per year. Gestation lasts 12-­‐13 days, with litters of one to five young being produced. The young bandicoots remain in the pouch for about 55 days, becoming independent and dispersing about three months after birth. Females may breed from four months of age, and can give birth to another litter immediately after the previous one has been weaned. Reproduction may occur throughout the year but rates reduce during late summer, and ceases altogether during times of drought. Threats The main threats are destruction of habitat (the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is a grassland animal, and destruction of around 98% of grassland habitat has seen a corresponding decline in the species), and predation by introduced animals such as dogs and cats. Recovery Plan Mainland bandicoots have been brought back from the brink of extinction by an intensive captive breeding and re-­‐introduction program. There are now around 2,000 individuals in a handful of sites heavily managed to exclude predators. Recovery for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot on the mainland is only likely within protected areas of natural habitat such as Mt Rothwell in Victoria, where FAME established a population in 2004. References & More Information Strahan R. (Ed) 1995. Mammals of Australia. The Australian Museum Trust. Reed New Holland, Australia. Watson A.J. & Halley M. 1999. Recovery Plan for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii (mainland subspecies). Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria. Aug-­‐13 www.fame.org.au