The Bilby, Peramelemorphia, is another unusual mammal from Australia.
The Bilby is a curious little animal, some as small as a chipmunk and others as big as a rabbit. All have long, narrow feet with long claws, and usually a long, pointed face. Their hind legs are enlarged so that they can hop around like kangaroos; their forefeet and claws are suited for digging in the grou
nd in search for larvae and insects.
Having hunted down a worm or a mouse, the bilby kneads it to a pulp on the ground with rapid strokes of its forefeet and then eats it. Its food, for the most part, consists of insects, but it will also eat roots, fruits and vegetables.
The bilbies are well known and
widely spread over Australia, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea. The Rabbit Bilby, is the oddest looking, with its large, leathery, rabbit-like ears and long, pointed snout.
The Greater Bilby, Macrotis legotis, is a slender, grey-brown animal with fairly large pointed ears and a sharp, pointed face. It is about 11-20 inches long, tail and all.
By day this little marsupial seeks shelter in hollow logs or crevices in the rocks; sometimes it will construct a rough nest. At night it becomes extremely active, hunting for insects and digging worms out of the ground with its long, sharp claws. When alarmed, it will spring high in the air.
May and June are breeding time for the bilby. The female produces two young, which she carries about in her well-formed pouch. She is a little smaller than the male, but is colored like him.
There are a number of species of Bilbies native to Australia and Tasmania. The little plush toy Bilby shown above is made by Wild Republic. Find it at our sponsor's online gift shop: www.jeanniescottage.com.
