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Bandicoots and Bilbies: Peramelemorphia

Physical Characteristics, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Bandicoots, Bilbies, And People, Conservation StatusGEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT



Species in this order are found only in limited parts of Australia, New Guinea, and the Indonesian island of Seram. In the past, these animals were abundant. They were found in about 70 percent of Australia, throughout New Guinea, and on several other Indonesian islands. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, their range has been drastically reduced by human activities.



The two families in this order live in different habitats. Peramelidae, or true bandicoots and bilbies, live in dry, desert areas, dry grassland, shrubby grassland, open forest, and suburban gardens. Peroryctidae, or spiny bandicoots, live in the tropical rainforests of New Guinea. Several species live in isolated areas at elevations up to 13,000 feet (4,000 meters).

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammals