Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Tasmania)

Perameles gunnii gunnii

Australia's Threatened Species Category

Vulnerable

Listed since: 26/03/2008

IUCN's Threatened Species Category

Vulnerable

Listed since: 18/05/2014

Population trend: Decreasing

Other names: None

Priority Species? No

The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.

Description

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Tasmania) is a yellowish-brown marsupial with three to four distinctive pale bars on its hindquarters. They live in open habitats including woodlands and open forests with a grassy understorey as it needs the understorey plants to provide shelter, nest sites and food. This species is most abundant in the south-eastern quarter of Tasmania.

Threats

The main identified threats to the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Tasmania) include clearing of habitat, in particular loss of ground cover, and predation by feral cats and dogs. Cats are also the primary host of Toxoplasma gondii, a highly contagious parasite which can cause death in Bandicoots.