What is a bandicoot's lifespan?

Answer 1

Most baby bandicoots die before they have grown up, being subject to easy predation from introduced species such as cats, dogs and foxes. Depending on the species, a bandicoot may live for two to three years to an average of 6-7 years. The oldest recorded bandicoot was a bilby (sometimes called a rabbit-eared bandicoot) kept in captivity, which lived to nine years and seven months.

Answer 2

Bandicoots are small native marsupials of Australia. In the southern states, they breed in late winter, whilst in the north they can breed all year around.

A baby bandicoot, or joey, is born after a gestation period of 12-13 days and climbs into its mother's backwards-facing pouch where it latches onto one of eight teats. Although there are eight teats, there are usually only 2-4 joeys, at most, in the pouch at the same time.

Bandicoot joeys are weaned between 59 and 70 days. They are among the fastest reproducing marsupials, and young female are ready to breed a month after weaning. An adult female may be ready to breed again when the joeys are just 50 days old, meaning they can breed several times during breeding season.

Depending on the species, and on threats in the wild (such as predation by cats and foxes), bandicoot may live from 2-3 years, whilst in captivity they have been known to live for 6-7 years.

Answer 3

The correct name for a rabbit bandicoot, or rabbit-eared bandicoot, is the bilby. The lifespan of a wild bilby is up to 6 years, but often less, due to predation and habitat destruction. A bilby in captivity can live between 6-7 years, and the oldest recorded bilby lived for nine years and seven months.

Answer 4

A bandicoot only lives for about two to three years (assuming it lived to be an adult).

Answer 5

Bandicoots are alive and well today. There are numerous species still in existence in Australia.

Answer 6

Around 2.5 to 3 years depending on health