Isoodon obesulus Click to enlarge image
Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus Image: Nature Focus
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • NSW Conservation Status
    Endangered species
  • Classification
    Genus
    Isoodon
    Species
    obesulus
    Family
    Peramelidae
    Order
    Peramelemorphia
    Subclass
    Marsupialia
    Class
    Mammalia
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    28 cm - 36 cm

The Southern Brown Bandicoot is listed as an endangered species in New South Wales and is known from only two areas.

Habitat

The Southern Brown Bandicoot prefers scrubby habitats with plenty of low ground cover and shelter, particularly areas recovering from the effects of bushfire.

Distribution

The Southern Brown Bandicoot is found in northern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, southern Western Australia and Tasmania. In New South Wales, one population is found on the south coast and the other just north of Sydney.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

By day, the Southern Brown Bandicoot sleeps in a nest made from grasses and other plant material, and at night emerges to feed on a variety of insects, earthworms and plants.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The Southern Brown Bandicoot is solitary. Males and females establish home ranges, which vary considerably in size depending on the habitat and the individual.

Conservation status

The distribution of the Southern Brown Bandicoot has decreased significantly since European settlement mainly as a result of vegetation clearing, introduced foxes and cats, and changes to the frequency of bushfires.The Southern Brown Bandicoot is listed as an endangered species in New South Wales and is known from only two areas.


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