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The Beautiful Bilby |
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Scientists call the bilby macrotis lagotis. The bilby is a member of the bandicoot family. It has long, pointy ears. It is because of its ears that this marsupial used to be called the rabbit-eared bandicoot. Its fur is long and very soft; darker on its back and paler underneath. |
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The bilby has powerful legs for digging and a long pointy snout for pushing through soft sands in which the little marsupial builds its burrows. The bilby's eyes are large and dark, indicating that the animal is nocturnal. It emerges from its burrow to collect insects, centipedes, worms, grasses and fungi. The sharp, pointy teeth show that the bilby is a carnivore. Bilbies used to be found over most of Australia. Now they are far less common. There are several reasons why bilbies have disappeared in many areas. Some of these threats still exist today. 1. Foxes hunt bilbies. Since foxes were introduced into Australia, they have been responsible for the deaths of many bilbies and other small marsupial. Other introduced animals like cats and rabbits and cattle have also damaged bilby populations. Cattle ate the grasses and trampled the land. rabbits stole the burrows. 2. Fires. Aboriginal people burnt the land in a patchwork pattern. Once these patterns changed, fires became less common, but they became much hotter and bigger. Grasses changed and didn't re-grow as well because of the very hot fires. 3. The land was cleared for farming and towns. Cattle, sheep and farms changed the bilbies' habitat. |
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To use this page effectively, children will need a worksheet from 'NetResearch: Animals of Australia' from Elton Publications. |