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The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunni), also known as Gunn's Bandicoot, lives in woodland and heathland of south Victoria and Tasmania in Australia. It is 25–40 cm long with a 7.5–18 cm tail. It is very aggressive and belligerent and lives alone. Males occupy large territories and only consort with females for mating. This species is mainly nocturnal. It emerges from its nest at dusk to forage for earthworms and other invertebrates. It uses its long nose to probe deep into the soil and then digs eagerly when it locates food. The female has 8 nipples, but seldom produces more than 4–5 young after 11 days — this is one of the shortest gestation periods of any mammal. The young stay in the pouch for 8 weeks.
[edit] References
- ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 40. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group (1996). Perameles gunnii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1b v2.3)
