Macrotis
Genus of desert marsupials known as bilbies or rabbit-bandicoots.
Macrotis is a genus of desert-dwelling marsupial omnivores known as bilbies or rabbit-bandicoots, members of the order Peramelemorphia. At the time of European colonisation of Australia, there were two species: the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) and the lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura), the latter becoming extinct in the 1950s. The greater bilby survives but remains endangered, currently listed as a vulnerable species. The genus name derives from Greek, meaning "big-eared," a reference to the animal’s notably large, long ears, which aid in heat radiation and hearing. The name "bilby" comes from the Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales, meaning long-nosed rat; it is also known as dalgite in Western Australia and occasionally pinkie in South Australia. Bilbies have a long, pointed bandicoot muzzle, very large ears, and soft, silky fur, typically grey or white. They are nocturnal omnivores that obtain all necessary moisture from their food, which includes insects, larvae, seeds, spiders, bulbs, fruit, fungi, and very small animals, often located by digging or scratching in soil with their long tongues. Unlike bandicoots, bilbies are expert burrowers, using strong forelimbs and well-developed claws to construct extensive tunnel systems; a single bilby may maintain up to a dozen burrows within its home range for shelter from predators and daytime heat. The female’s pouch faces backward to prevent dirt from entering while digging. Gestation lasts only 12–14 days, one of the shortest among mammals. The bilby lineage extends back 15 million years, with a 15-million-year-old fossil jaw suggesting ancestors had shorter teeth suited for forest fruit, while modern bilbies evolved long teeth for digging in desert soils to reach worms and insects. Conservation efforts include captive breeding, population monitoring, and reintroductions into predator-proof reserves, such as at Arid Recovery in South Australia and Currawinya National Park in Queensland, as well as on the Peron Peninsula in Western Australia and at Australian Wildlife Conservancy sanctuaries.
- field
- Marsupial omnivores
- known_for
- Large ears, backward-facing pouch, burrowing behavior
- species_count
- Two (one extant, one extinct)
- extant_species
- Greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis)
- extinct_species
- Lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura)
- conservation_status
- Vulnerable (greater bilby)
Lore & Background
The genus name *Macrotis* means 'big-eared' in Greek, referring to the animal's large, long ears. Troughton recognised three species names, including one highly variable population with six subspecies. The family's current name Thylacomyidae is derived from an invalid synonym *Thylacomys*, meaning 'pouched mouse'. At the time of European colonisation of Australia, two species existed: the greater bilby, which survives but remains endangered and listed as vulnerable, and the lesser bilby, which became extinct in the 1950s. The greater bilby averages a certain length excluding its tail, which is also around that length. Its fur is typically grey or white, and it possesses a long, pointed nose and very long ears, which radiate heat and provide excellent hearing, earning it the nickname "rabbit-bandicoot." Compared to bandicoots, bilbies have a longer tail, larger ears, and softer, silkier fur. They are nocturnal omnivores that obtain all necessary moisture from their food, including insects, larvae, seeds, spiders, bulbs, fruit, fungi, and very small animals, locating most food by digging or scratching in the soil and using their very long tongues. Unlike bandicoots, bilbies are expert burrowers, using strong forelimbs and well-developed claws to build extensive tunnel systems. A bilby typically maintains up to about a dozen burrows within its home range, moving between them for shelter from predators and daytime heat. The female's pouch faces backward to prevent dirt from entering while she digs. Gestation lasts about 12–14 days, one of the shortest among mammals. The bilby lineage extends back 15 million years; a 2014 fossil find of a 15-million-year-old jaw had shorter teeth suited for eating forest fruit, while modern bilbies have evolved long teeth for digging in the desert to eat worms and insects. The bilby is thought to have diverged from its closest relative, an originally carnivorous bandicoot, 20 million years ago.
Reader's Guide
Bilbies have the characteristic long bandicoot muzzle and very big ears that radiate heat. They are about 29–55 cm long, with a tail around 29 cm. Compared to bandicoots, they have a longer tail, bigger ears, and softer, silky fur. They are nocturnal omnivores that do not need to drink water, obtaining moisture from food including insects, larvae, seeds, spiders, bulbs, fruit, fungi, and very small animals. Unlike bandicoots, they are excellent burrowers, building extensive tunnel systems with strong forelimbs and well-developed claws. The female's pouch faces backwards to prevent dirt from entering while digging. Gestation is about 12–14 days, one of the shortest among mammals.
Did You Know?
- The greater bilby is on average 55 cm long, excluding the tail, which is usually around 29 cm.
- The term bilby is a loanword from the Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales, meaning long-nosed rat.
- Bilbies have a gestation of about 12–14 days, one of the shortest among mammals.
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