Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern)

Isoodon obesulus obesulus

Australia's Threatened Species Category

Endangered

Listed since: 4/04/2001

IUCN's Threatened Species Category

Least Concern

Listed since: 16/05/2014

Population trend: Decreasing

Other names: Southern Brown Bandicoot (south-eastern)

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 southern brown bandicoot is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling marsupial which inhabits areas of dense vegetation, including wetland fringes and heathland. The species is omnivorous and forages for food mainly by digging in the leaf litter and soil to find insects, fungi, plant root nodules and bulbs. Bandicoots construct nests under plants on the ground; they do not create their own burrow, but occasionally use the burrows of other species.

Threats

The southern brown bandicoot has experienced severe range contractions and population declines since European settlement with an estimate that the southern brown bandicoot (eastern) has experienced a 50-90 percent decline in its range.