Dictionary:

bandicoot

  (băn'dĭ-kūt')

1. Any of several large rats of the genera Bandicota and Nesokia of southeast Asia.
2. Any of several ratlike marsupials of the family Peramelidae, of Australia and adjacent islands, that feed on insects and plants and have a long, tapering snout and elongated hind legs.

[Telugu bantikokku : banti, ball + kokku, long beak.]

Subfamily: Bilbies

(Peramelidae and Peroryctidae)

Class: Mammalia

Order: Peramelemorphia

Family: Peramelidae and Peroryctidae

Thumbnail description
Small to medium-sized marsupials, with long, tapering snouts and short tails (most species); ears small to large, especially pronounced in rabbit-bandicoots; most species share a similar body form and are uniform in color, although some species have posterior barring or dorsal longitudinal stripes

Size
Head and body length ranges from 6.7–10.4 in (17–26.5 cm) in mouse bandicoot to 19.7–23.6 in (50–60 cm) in giant bandicoot; tail length from 4.3–4.7 in (11–12 cm) (mouse bandicoot) to 5.5–7.9 in (14–20 cm) (giant bandicoot); and weight from 4.9–6.5 oz (140–185 g) (mouse bandicoot) to 10.6 lb (4.8 kg) (giant bandicoot)

Number of genera, species
7 genera; 19 species

Habitat
Desert, grassland, woodland, forest, coastal complexes, rainforest, semi-urban

Conservation status
Peramelidae: Extinct: 3 species; Endangered: 1 species; Vulnerable: 3 species; Peroryctidae: Data Deficient: 7 species

Distribution
Peramelidae: Australia, New Guinea; Peroryctidae: New Guinea, Indonesia (Irian Jaya, Seram), Australia

Evolution and systematics

The order Peramelemorphia includes all the living bandicoots. They possess four or five pairs of blunt incisors in the upper jaw and three similar pairs in the lower jaw, and are thus polyprotodont. The hindfeet have the second and third toes joined in syndactyly. The order contains a single super-family, the Perameloidea, which is divided into two families: the Peramelidae contains all the non-spiny bandicoots and the pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus); the Peroryctidae includes the spiny bandicoots. While it appears that the order is intermediate between dasyuroids (polyprotodonts) and diprotodonts, the evolutionary origins of the bandicoots remain contentious and opinion varies, dependent on the significance given to dental or foot structure. Bandicoots may have evolved from dasyuroids, retaining polyprotodonty and separately evolving syndactyly, or from the diprotodonts, retaining their syndactyly and evolving polyprotodonty. But it is more plausible that they are derived from a proto-perameloid ancestor that produced two lines, one the terrestrial insectivorous/omnivorous bandicoots and the other the arboreal, herbivorous possums. Baverstock, et al. in 1990, suggested that this separation might have occurred around 48 million years ago (mya). Such fossil bandicoots as have been described differ little from modern forms.

The two families are discriminated by skull characteristics, that of peramelids being flattened in lateral view while the skull of peroryctids is more or less cylindrical. Other skull characters have been described by Groves and Flannery in 1990. The fur in many peroryctids is harsh and spiny. Peroryctids mostly inhabit rainforest, in contrast to the relatively dry habitats used by peramelids. It is possible that the now-extinct pig-footed bandicoot should be separated from the other species within the Peramelinae, as it exhibits a number of distinguishing characters of structure and behavior.

Physical characteristics

Bandicoots are small marsupials with a long, pointed snout, and are stockily built, with short limbs and neck. The ears are generally short and rounded, although more elongate in the genus Perameles. The pig-footed bandicoots have long, erect ears. The tail is thin and short in most species, although it is long and crested in the pig-footed bandicoot. The teeth are small, relatively even in size, and sharply pointed. The dental formula is generally (I1-5/1-3 C1/1 P1-3/1-3, M1-4/1-4) but in Echymipera and Rhynchomeles there are only four pairs of upper incisors. The forefeet bear strong curved claws that are used in conjunction with the elongate muzzle to dig food items from the soil. Digits I and V are reduced in all species, and in Chaeropus only digits II and III are functional, giving rise to the common name. The hindfoot is elongate; digit I is reduced or absent, digits II and III are joined in syndactyly, digit IV is elongate, strong and powerful, while digit V is reduced or absent. Fur coloration is generally drab and unadorned, being darker on the dorsal surface and lighter ventrally. Exceptions exist, however. Perameles gunnii and P. bougainville have prominent pale posterior bars, Microperoryctes longicauda, M. papuensis, and Echymipera echinista are variously striped on the head and dorsum. The pig-footed bandicoot has a crested tail tipped with black.

Distribution

Bandicoots are confined to Australia, New Guinea, and the island of Seram. Prior to European settlement of Australia, bandicoots were widespread and at least one species was present in any given locality across almost the whole of the continent, in virtually all habitats. In the arid center of Australia, up to five species may have been found, whereas in tropical and temperate zones two or three species occurred. Some offshore islands are now the only places in which certain species survive. Similarly, bandicoots occur throughout New Guinea, from the coast to the central high mountain ranges, and some forms are restricted to off-shore islands. One species only occurs on Seram.

Habitat

All species are terrestrial. Australian habitats utilized by peramelids included: arid open-dense shrubland; sand plain, sand-ridge desert and spinifex grassland; temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands; wet and dry open-forest; deciduous vine thickets; heath and heathy woodlands and open-forest; savanna woodland, and shrubby grassland. Three species also use suburban gardens. In New Guinea, peroryctids occupy rainforest—lowland, primary and secondary highland; woodlands; subalpine grasslands; and are also found in gardens and regrowth forest. The Seram Island bandicoot was only found in tropical forest. Altitudinal range for bandicoots is from sea-level to 13,120 ft (4,000 m).

Behavior

Mutual avoidance is the predominant social behavior and most bandicoots are essentially solitary. During courtship and mating, male and female bandicoots associate for a limited time and several males may mate with a single female. The young may follow their mother for a short time after permanent emergence from the nest. Male-male interactions are always aggressive and in captivity will result in serious injury or death. Most species are nocturnal, some more strictly so than others, but southern brown bandicoots are often diurnal.

Bandicoots adopt several distinct postures when at rest, but when alert will often stand tripedally, with one foreleg raised and retracted towards the body, or stand erect on their hindfeet. Locomotion is quadrupedal and involves walking, running, galloping, and leaping. The latter is believed to be an escape mechanism. Vocalization is restricted to honks, snorts, and sneezes, which may be used to clear the nostrils after digging.

Feeding ecology and diet

Bandicoots are opportunistic and omnivorous, although the pig-footed bandicoot may have been more herbivorous. Most species obtain their food by first locating it through olfaction (and perhaps also by hearing) and then digging a conical pit to where the invertebrate or plant material is situated. The diet includes adult and larval insects (especially Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Lepidoptera), earthworms, centipedes, seeds, bulbs, tubers, and hypogeous fungal sporocarps. Small vertebrates such as lizards and mice are occasionally eaten. In garden areas, and in tropical rainforest, fallen fruit is eaten.

Reproductive biology

The pouch opens to the rear and contains two crescentic rows of four nipples. Litters vary from one to five (average about two) in most species. The gestation period is very short—12.5 days in Perameles nasuta, P. gunnii, and Isoodon macrourus. These genera are polyestrous and the estrus cycle is about 20–25 days. Growth and development is rapid and in some species sexual maturity may be reached at theee to four months of age. Bandicoots may breed throughout the year, although some degree of seasonality is shown. Such seasonality may be dependent on climatic conditions; for example, eastern barred bandicoots in Tasmania do not breed during the coldest winter months, and the same species on the mainland ceases breeding during periods of drought. Breeding may be initiated by an increase in food availability (perhaps related to rainfall events), rates of change in temperature, or photoperiod. Mating is probably either polygynous or promiscuous.

One of the most significant features of bandicoot reproduction is the presence of a functional chorioallantoic placenta in addition to the yolk-sac. The placenta has evolved independently and is probably correlated with the rapid rate of development in bandicoots.

Bandicoots are short-lived—a maximum of two to three years in the wild, although they may reach five years of age in captivity.

Conservation status

Peramelidae: Of the 10 modern species, two are extinct. These are species from the arid interior—the pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus) and desert bandicoot (Perameles eremiana). The mainland form of the eastern barred bandicoot (P. gunnii) is Critically Endangered; the Tasmanian form is Vulnerable. One species, the western barred bandicoot (P. bougainville) is Endangered—it is extinct on the main-land and occurs only on Bernier and Dorre Islands in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Four subspecies are Vulnerable—the mainland and Barrow Island forms of the golden bandicoot, Nuyts southern brown bandicoot, and the Tasmanian form of the eastern barred bandicoot. Among the other forms (mainly subspecies) at least three are Near Threatened.

Peroryctidae: Little is known about the status of most species. One species, the Seram Island bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum), is known only from the type series collected in 1920. Several other species, including the mouse bandicoot (Microperoryctes murina), David's echymipera (Echymipera davidi), Menzies' echymipera (E. echinista), and Papuan bandicoot (Microperoryctes papuensis), are rarely encountered and may be Vulnerable.

Significance to humans

Probably all species of peramelids were used as food by native Australians. The larger peroryctids are still hunted for food in New Guinea. Minor annoyance in suburban areas is caused by bandicoots digging foraging holes in lawns.

Species accounts

Resources

Flannery, T. Mammals of New Guinea. Sydney: Reed Books and Australian Museum, 1995.

Flannery, T. Mammals of the South-West Pacific and Moluccan Islands. Sydney: Reed Books and Australian Museum, 1995.

Gordon, G., and A. J. Hulbert. "Peramelidae." In Vol. 1B of Fauna of Australia: Mammalia, edited by D. W. Walton and B. J. Richardson. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1989.

Jones, F. W. The Mammals of South Australia. Part 2. The Bandicoots and the Herbivorous Marsupials. Adelaide: Government Printer, 1924.

Mahoney, J. A., and W. D. L. Ride. "Peramelidae." In Zoological Catalogue of Australia 5, Mammalia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1988.

Menzies, J. A Handbook of New Guinea Marsupials and Monotremes. Madang, Papua, New Guinea: Kristen Press, Inc., 1991.

Seebeck, J. H., P. R. Brown, R. L. Wallis, and C. M. Kemper, eds. Bandicoots and Bilbies. Chipping Norton, Australia: Surrey Beatty & Sons, 1990.

Strahan, R., ed. The Mammals of Australia. Sydney: Reed Books and Australian Museum, 1995.

Stodart, E. "Breeding and Behaviour of Australian Bandicoots." In The Biology of Marsupials, edited by B. Stonehouse and D. Gilmore. London: Macmillan, 1977.

Freedman, L. "Skull and Tooth Variation in the Genus Perameles. Part 1. Anatomical Features." Records of the Australian Museum 27 (1967): 147.

Gordon, G., and B. C. Lawrie. "The Rufescent Bandicoot, Echymipera rufescens (Peters and Doria), on Cape York Peninsula." Australian Wildlife Research 5 (1977): 41.

Heinsohn, G. E. "Ecology and Reproduction of the Tasmanian Bandicoots (Perameles gunni and Isoodon obesulus)." University of California Publications in Zoology 80 (1966): 1.

Seebeck, John H. "Perameles gunnii." Mammalian Species Account No. 654.

[Article by: John H. Seebeck, BSc, MSc, FAMS]

Not every animal is a friend to humankind. There is a particularly unappetizing little mammal in the southeast of India known as the "pig-rat" or pandikokku in the Telugu language spoken there. In 1789, an English writer called it a "troublesome animal" because of "its offensive smell." In 1813, another complained that "bandicoote rats frequently undermine warehouses and destroy every kind of merchandise."

Meanwhile, another kind of bandicoot was in the making. Australia was beginning to swarm with English explorers and settlers. As early as 1799, someone familiar with the bandicoot of India saw something that looked like it in Australia and gave the latter that name. It has stuck with the Australian creature ever since.

Later observers realized that the Indian bandicoot and the Australian one are quite unrelated. What's more, the Australian bandicoot is cute. Or at least comical. It is the size of a rabbit but with a long nose and long legs. Like a kangaroo or opossum, it is a marsupial and sleeps during the day. Also like a kangaroo or opossum, it has a combing toe on each hind foot for grooming and scratching. Its main foods are roots, bulbs, and insects, but it also occasionally eats lizards or other small animals.

Australian bandicoots come in several species, but there aren't as many as there used to be. The desert bandicoot and the pig-footed bandicoot are extinct. The golden bandicoot and barred bandicoot are rare, and even rabbit bandicoots are not plentiful. According to the Australian National Dictionary, since the 1830s the bandicoot has been spoken of "as an emblem of deprivation" in phrases like "miserable as a bandicoot" and "poor as a bandicoot." To bandicoot, in Australian English, is to surreptitiously dig potatoes, leaving the tops behind.

The language from which bandicoot came, Telugu, is spoken by nearly seventy million people in southeastern India. It is an official language in the state of Andhra Pradesh and has the greatest number of speakers of any of the Dravidian languages. The pitta (1840), a bright-colored bird, also has a Telugu name in English.

(click to enlarge)
Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta). (credit: Warren Garst — Tom Stack and Associates)

Any of about 22 species of marsupials (family Peramelidae) found in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Bandicoots are 12 – 30 in. (30 – 80 cm) long, including the 4- to 12-in. (10 – to 30-cm) sparsely haired tail. They have a stout, coarse-haired body, a tapered muzzle, and hindlimbs longer than their forelimbs. Unlike other marsupials, bandicoots have a placenta. They are terrestrial, solitary animals that dig pits to search for insect and plant food. Farmers consider them pests. All species have declined, and some are now endangered.

For more information on bandicoot, visit Britannica.com.

Small, 1 ft, fawn, sometimes barred marsupial with a pointed nose, prick ears and long back legs. It is nocturnal, burrowing, insectivorous and a host for Ixodes holocyclus. Called also Perameles spp.

Bandicoots
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Peramelemorphia (in part)
Families and Genera
Chaeropodidae Chaeropus Peramelidae Isoodon Perameles Peroryctes Echymipera Microperoryctes Rhynchomeles

A bandicoot is any of about 20 species of small to medium-sized, terrestrial marsupial omnivores in the order Peramelemorphia. The word bandicoot is an anglicised form of the Telugu word pandi-kokku, (loosely, pig-rat) which originally referred to the unrelated Indian Bandicoot Rat. The other two species of peramelemorphs are the bilbies.

Classification within the Peramelemorphia used to be simple: there were thought to be two families in the order — the short-legged and mostly herbivorous bandicoots, and the longer-legged, more nearly carnivorous bilbies. In recent years, however, it has become clear that the situation is more complex. First, the bandicoots of the New Guinean and far-northern Australian rainforests were deemed distinct from all other bandicoots, and these were grouped together in the separate family Peroryctidae. More recently, the bandicoot families were reunited in Peramelidae, with the New Guinean species split into four genera in two subfamilies, Peroryctinae and Echymiperinae, while the "true bandicoots" occupy the subfamily Peramelinae. The only exception is the extinct Pig-footed Bandicoot, which has been given its own family, Chaeropodidae.

The embryos of bandicoots, unlike other marsupials, form a placenta-like organ that connects it to the uterine wall. The function of this organ is probably to transfer nutrients from the mother; however the structure is small compared to those of the placentalia.

• ORDER PERAMELEMORPHIA
• Family Thylacomyidae: bilbies, 2 species
• Family Chaeropodidae: Pig-footed Bandicoot
• Family Peramelidae
  • Subfamily Peramelinae
    • Genus Isoodon: short-nosed bandicoots
    • Genus Perameles: long-nosed bandicoots
  • Subfamily Peroryctinae
    • Genus Peroryctes: New Guinean long-nosed bandicoots
  • Subfamily Echymiperinae
    • Genus Echymipera: New Guinean spiny bandicoots
    • Genus Microperoryctes: New Guinean mouse bandicoots
    • Genus Rhynchomeles: Ceram Bandicoot
• Superfamily Yaraloidea
  • Family Yaralidae: fossil bandicoots, 2 species

References

• (2005-11-16) in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 

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