How do bilbies keep cool?

Answer 1

The Bilby (Macrotis Lagotis), sometimes known as a rabbit eared bandicoot, is a small marsupial of Australia. It was originally found throughout Australia, in much more hospitable environments, but habitat loss due to European settlement has driven it into the desert. It has developed a number of physical adaptations which help it to survive in its harsh desert environment.

1. Large ears.

The large ears have several purposes. The main reason for having large ears is for thermo regulation (to cool the bilby). Blood flows quickly into the thin tissue around the Bilby's ears, preventing them from getting too hot during the day and from losing body heat quickly at night.

These large ears give the bilby an excellent sense of hearing, which makes up for the fact that their sense of sight is not as well-developed. They can also be rotated, much as a cat's ears do, to discern direction and distances of sounds.

2. Sharp Claws

The bilby has sharp claws similar to those of the bandicoot. These claws allow for burrowing deep into the arid earth which pawed animals would have difficulty penetrating. There are five front digits on each foot, with the central three being longer than the outside ones.

Sharp claws also allow the marsupial to dig out plants for eating. Bilbies are omnivores and must forage for invertebrates such as insects, as well as digging out plant bulbs and tubers.

3. A Long Tongue

The bilby has a long tongue to help it when feeding on fungi, root bulbs and insect larvae.

4. Backwards-Facing Pouch

The female bilby has a backwards-facing pouch. This prevents dirt from getting into the pouch when the creature is digging.

5. Water Needs

The bilby does not need to drink water. It obtains enough moisture from the food it eats, which includes insects, seeds, bulbs, fungi, Spiders and larvae.

6. Long Snout

The bilby has a long snout, and an excellent sense of smell. These two adaptations help it to hunt out and catch small prey such as the small invertebrates (insects and larvae) on which it feeds, and also helps it to reach other foods such as bulbs, fruit, fungi and seeds easily.

7. Reproduction

As a marsupial, the bilby has a shorter gestation period than other mammals. Its gestation period is only around fourteen days.

8. Shelter

The bilby digs a burrow around 1-2 m in length to escape the heat of the day. The shelter can easily be up to 10 degrees cooler than the surface temperature. It is nocturnal, only emerging at night to obtain food.

Answer 2

The bilby has large ears for thermo regulation (to cool the bilby). Blood flows quickly into the thin tissue around the Bilby's ears, preventing them from getting too hot during the day and from losing body heat quickly at night.

It is nocturnal, which enables it to hunt for food in the cool of the night. by day, it shelter in burrows underground. The bilby does not need to drink water. It obtains enough moisture from the food it eats.

Answer 3

Bilbies survive their desert environment with the assistance of numerous adaptations.

It has large ears which serve several purposes. The main reason for having large ears is for thermo regulation (to cool the bilby). Blood flows quickly into the thin tissue around the Bilby's ears, preventing them from getting too hot during the day and from losing body heat quickly at night. These large ears give the bilby an excellent sense of hearing, which makes up for the fact that their sense of sight is not as well-developed. They can also be rotated, much as a cat's ears do, to discern direction and distances of sounds.

The bilby has sharp claws which allow for burrowing deep into the arid earth which pawed animals would have difficulty penetrating. There are five front digits on each foot, with the central three being longer than the outside ones. Sharp claws also allow the marsupial to dig out plants for eating. Bilbies are omnivores and must forage for invertebrates such as insects, as well as digging out plant bulbs and tubers. The bilby has a long snout, a long tongue and an excellent sense of smell. These three adaptations help it to hunt out and catch small prey such as the small invertebrates (insects and larvae) on which it feeds, and also helps it to reach other foods such as bulbs, fruit, fungi and seeds easily. The bilby does not need to drink water. It obtains enough moisture from the food it eats.

The female bilby has a backwards-facing pouch. This prevents dirt from getting into the pouch when the creature is digging.

The bilby is nocturnal. This helps to keep it safe from some diurnal predators such as carpet pythons and Birds of Prey. It hunts by night and sleeps by day. Being nocturnal also helps it to escape the desert heat.

Answer 4

Bilbies have large ears for thermo regulation (to cool the bilby). Blood flows quickly into the thin tissue around the Bilby's ears, preventing them from getting too hot during the day and from losing body heat quickly at night. They are nocturnal, foraging for their food during the cooler night, and sheltering in deep burrows during the day.