Threatened Species - The Southern Brown Bandicoot
Status and Distribution
Before European settlement, eight species of bandicoot and bilby occurred in South Australia. Today, the Southern Brown Bandicoot is the only species that still naturally occurs in the State. Unfortunately, this species is also at risk of extinction and is listed as 'vulnerable' in South Australia and as 'endangered' nationally. The Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus, is represented by five subspecies. Two of these subspecies occur within South Australia. Isoodon obesulus nauticus is present on Franklin and St Francis Islands off the west coast of Eyre Peninsula while Isoodon obesulus obesulus is found in the Mount Lofty Ranges, the South East and on Kangaroo Island. The latter subspecies also previously occurred on Eyre Peninsula but hasn't been found there in recent times. Both of these sub-species are listed as Vulnerable in the State but only I. o. obesulus is listed as nationally threatened and is therefore the focus of this website. In the Mount Lofty Ranges bandicoots occur from Morialta Conservation Park in the northern Adelaide Hills to Deep Creek Conservation Park on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula (see map [100Kb PDF]). DescriptionThe Southern Brown Bandicoot is a medium-sized marsupial with a long snout, small round ears, a short tail and large rump. Bandicoots are roughly a third to half the size of a rabbit. They have coarse brown fur with a golden speckled appearance and a pale white to cream coloured underside. People frequently confuse bandicoots with rats! The larger size, shorter tail and long snout of bandicoots are key features that distinguish them from rats. Bandicoots are strictly ground-dwelling marsupials that don't climb. The following factsheets are available to help you identify bandicoots from other mammals that occur in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
HabitsSouthern Brown Bandicoots primarily live in Stringybark Eucalypt woodlands and forests that have a dense shrubby understorey. The dense understorey is critically important for the survival of bandicoots because it provides them with protection from predators. In areas where their natural habitat has been cleared or modified, bandicoots often inhabit blackberry thickets as these provide a similar level of shelter and protection. Bandicoots are solitary animals. They are active during parts of the day and night but are most often seen in the morning or late afternoon. Each individual occupies an area of between 1 and 6 ha (depending on the quality of the habitat and the sex of the animal). This 'home range' area usually overlaps with the home ranges of other bandicoots, with overlap being higher between animals of different sexes.
Southern Brown Bandicoots forage for their food under leaf litter and in the soil. When foraging they dig small cone-shaped holes in the ground that are typically slightly deeper than they are wide and have a single pile of soil beside them. These holes are often the first clue that bandicoots occur in an area. Bandicoots consume a wide range of invertebrates, truffle-like fungi, fruits and other plant material. Southern Brown Bandicoots construct nests of leaf litter and soil that they conceal under shrubs and grasses. Although bandicoots dig for their food they are not known to dig burrows for shelter. However they sometimes use burrows constructed by other species such as rabbits. They breed from late winter through to summer with females typically having 2 to 3 young per litter and several litters per year. Less than half of these young are expected to survive to maturity. Threats and Threatening ProcessesA number of threatening processes affecting Southern Brown Bandicoot survivorship have been identified, these include:
Further information on these threats can be found in the 'Recovery Plan for the Southern Brown Bandicoot in the Mount Lofty Ranges, 2004-2009' (400Kb PDF). Conservation EffortsA regional Southern Brown Bandicoot Recovery Team operates in the Mount Lofty Ranges. This team coordinates activities designed to improve the conservation status of the species. These activities are implemented by the DEH Bandicoot Project Officer, community groups and private and public landholders and land managers.
A Recovery Plan for the Southern Brown Bandicoot in the Mount Lofty Ranges (400Kb PDF) guides the Recovery Team and the activities of the Project Officer. Key actions identified in the Recovery Plan include:
Have You Seen A Bandicoot?
It is important to identify where bandicoots occur throughout the Mount Lofty Ranges. You can help do this by using the link below to let the Project Officer know if you have seen a bandicoot recently (please only use this form for bandicoots sighted in the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia, which includes the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula. Sightings from Kangaroo Island or the South East should be reported to the Kingscote and Mt Gambier Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) offices respectively). Please also report any road-killed bandicoots as soon as you see them so that genetic samples can be collected. To help us validate our records, please first ask yourself the following questions before submitting a sighting:
If you get the chance to take a digital photo of the animal to send us that would also help (but is not essential). To send us the details of your sighting, copy the text within the table below, click here then paste the copied text into the email. Complete the form and send the e-mail. The Bandicoot Project Officer will reply to your e-mail and may require some additional information. Feel free to include in your e-mail any questions you may have about bandicoots.
What You Can Do To HelpIf you have Southern Brown Bandicoots living in your local area:
You could also improve bandicoot habitat by joining a community conservation group in your area:
Program SupportThe Southern Brown Bandicoot Recovery Program in the Mount Lofty Ranges is operated by DEH with funding from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board. Implementation of the Recovery Program is guided by an independent Recovery Team comprised of representatives from universities, land management agencies (SA Water, DEH, Forestry SA, Local Government), the Threatened Species Network, community group representatives and the Natural Resource Management Board. References
Paull D. 1995. The distribution of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. Wildlife Research 22: 585-600 Kemper, C. 1990. Status of bandicoots in South Australia. IN Bandicoots and Bilbies [ed] Seebeck, J., Brown, P., Wallis, R. and C. Kemper. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd Chipping Norton NSW Additional Information
ContactKirstin Long, , Project Officer, Southern Brown Bandicoot Recovery Program, Department for Environment and Heritage |
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