What features help the bilby survive?

Answer 1

The bilby lives in the desert and semi-arid areas of Australia, digging burrows to escape from the heat of the day. It also obtains most of its moisture needs from the food it eats, which consists of insects and their larvae, seeds, bulbs, fruit, fungi and even, on occasion, other small mammals. It is nocturnal, only emerging at night to hunt for food, so this also helps it survive in harsh environments.

Answer 2

Bilbies have very little protection from predators. They are small and defenceless creatures, and their only protection is to hide in burrows during the day. They are nocturnal creatures, coming out only at night, and this means they can avoid predators such as pythons and Birds of Prey.

Answer 3

A bilby will run away at any sign of danger and hide in its burrow. Bilbies dig deep burrows for shelter, but above the ground they have absolutely no defence at all. Their sharp claws and teeth are insufficient to use as defence.

Answer 4

The bilby has several adaptations that enable it to catch its food.

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. These sharp claws 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 tongue to help it when feeding on fungi, root bulbs and insect larvae.

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.

Answer 5

Bilbies have light blue-grey fur with patches of tan, and a crested black and white tail. These colours enable the bilby to camouflage among the bluebush and saltbush of the semi-arid areas where they live.

Answer 6

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 adapt to 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.

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.