What are some short facts about bilbies?

Answer 1

• Bilbies are marsupial.
• They are endemic to Australia, and are not found in any other country.
• They are members of the bandicoot family.
• There were two species, the Lesser bilby and the Greater bilby, but the Lesser bilby is now extinct.
• The bilby was once found throughout most of the Australian mainland, but since European settlement, it has been pushed back to occupy just a few areas of the Australian outback and desert.
• The bilby has large ears, which earned it the nickname of "rabbit-eared bandicoot". These large ears help to keep it cool in its hot environment.
• Bilbies are omnivores, feeding on fungi, insect larvae and plant roots.
• They do not need to drink, and obtain all their moisture needs from the food they eat.
• Bilbies dig burrows for shelter.
• Rabbits have caused major problems for bilbies, by digging shallow burrows above the bilbies' burrows, often causing the bilbies' burrows to cave in, suffocating the animals.
• Female bilbies have a backward-facing pouch which prevents dirt from getting into the pouch when the bilby digs.