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Numbats
The Numbat is a squirrel-sized marsupial that only lives in the eucalyptus forests and woodlands of south-western Australia, characterized by its narrow head, pointed snout and distinctive white bands of fur on its orange-brown body. Also known as the Banded Anteater, its diet consists of termites, which it collects with its 10cm long tongue.
118 Questions
Is the numbat solitary or does it live in groups?
The numbat is a solitary animal, and does not live in communities. However, research has found that, for part of the year, numbats do live in family groups, each with their own territory.
Numbats are most prone to being killed by non-native predators such as foxes and feral cats. As more of their habitat is cleared due to agriculture, there are fewer hiding places for numbats.
Numbats are also vulnerable to bushfires. Bushfires are more likely to occur due to changed fire regimes resulting from European settlement. Bushfires destroy the numbats' habitat, including the logs in which it shelters. Numbats are not fast-moving creatures, and they cannot escape bushfires, which can move very quickly.
Are numbats' habitat in destruction?
Absolutely.
Numbats can only be found in eucalyptus bushland of southwest Western Australia. This bushland also needs a certain amount of grassy understorey. They prefer habitat dominated by Wandoo, a type of eucalyptus. This habitat has been under threat since European settlement - mostly from agriculture, land-clearing and changed fire regimes.
Numbats used to be found across southern Australia. Now, due to the loss of their habitat, they are limited to the southwestern corner of Western Australia. Much of this is prime farming land.
What is the taxonomy of numbat?
The taxonomy for the numbat is Myrmecobius fasciatus.
It is of the Class Mammalia, Order Dasyuomorphiaand Family Myrmecobiidae.
Does a numbat waddle when it moves?
No. Numbats walk on four legs, and even though they are not fast-moving animals, they do not waddle.
What is the height of the Numbat?
The numbat is not tall. When sitting on their haunches, their height is about 25 cm.
What is a young tiercel called?
To clarify one point, 'tiercel' is not a species name. It's a falconry term for a male falcon or hawk. The falconry term for a falcon or hawk chick is 'eyas', sometimes spelled 'eyass'. It is not gender-specific.
Yes and no. The numbat is one of Australia's few marsupials that does not have a closed pouch, but just an open pouch. Like the young of other marsupials, numbat young attach to the mother's teat, which swell in their mouth to prevent them being dislodged, but the young, which are born blind and hairless, have to cling to the belly fur of their mother while they grow.
What does a fox do to a numbat?
Foxes eat numbats. They are one of the greatest threats to numbats, which are small, defenceless creatures.
What impacts do humans have on numbats?
The biggest impact on numbats by humans has been the introduction of predatory species such as foxes, feral cats and wild dogs. These animals have had a serious effect on the numbats' population, as numbats are small and quite defenceless.
Habitat loss has resulted from humans clearing land for agricultural purposes.
What is a group of Numbats called?
There is no collective term for a group of numbats. Numbats are solitary animals, and do not gather in groups. At most they live in small family groups for part of the year.
However, where there are numerous numbats living within the same range, they may be known as a colony.
Do numbats have unique individual markings?
Yes. The stripes on each and every numbat are as unique to the individual as fingerprints are to people.
The numbat is an endangered species which is protected. Therefore you may not hunt or eat numbats.
Numbats shelter in hollow logs and shallow burrows in bushland (eucalyptus woodland) with sufficient grassy undergrowth to give them nesting material for their burrows, and some protection from predators.
What do numbats do with their joeys?
Unlike other marsupials, numbat joeys do not have the protection of a pouch while they are developing. They are secured in place when the mother's teat swells in their mouth, but they must cling by instinct to the mother's underbelly, using their sharp claws.
Is a wombat and numbat considered cousins?
No. Wombats and numbats are both marsupials, but they do not belong to the same marsupial order or family.
The wombat's order is Diprotodontia and its family is Vombatidae.
The numbat is classified in its own family, and has no close relatives. Its order is Dasyuomorphia and its family is Myrmecobiidae.
Numbats feed almost exclusively on termites, although they will sometimes eat other types of ants. They have sharp claws for digging into termite mounds, although they prefer to dig out termites from under logs and underground, being able to detect them with their very sensitive noses. They have a sticky tongue for collecting the termites. A numbat eats as much as 20,000 termites a day.
Baby numbats (joeys) feed on mothers' milk.
