By Rebecca Anderson
Geographic Range
Isoodon obesulus inhabits several different geographic ranges. There are populations in eastern New South Wales, southern Victoria, southeastern south Australia, Kangaroo Island, southwestern western Australia, The Recherche Archipelago, Tasmania, and West Sister Island in Bass Strait. (Nowak, 1991)
Biogeographic Regions:
australian 
(native ).
Habitat
Isoodon obesulus prefer dense ground cover, tall grass and low shrubbery. They live near swamps and rivers as well as in thick scrub in drier areas. They make their nests on the ground and in logs. The nests consist of sticks, leaves, grass, and soil. (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1991)
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland .
Physical Description
(2.42 to 3.08 lbs)
Short nosed bandicoots are plain looking animals, similar in size and shape to rats and rabbits. The species obesulus has a shorter snout than other species of bandicoot, but it is still elongated for foraging. They have short rounded ears and sharp claws. The short nosed bandicoot has several colors in its fur. The upper part of the fur is usually blackish brown with hints of orange or yellow, while the underside is lighter brown, grey, or white. The short nosed bandicoot has a pouch that runs along the stomach and opens backwards between the hind legs. (Nowak, 1991)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Short nosed Bandicoots have pouches that are characteristic of most marsupials. Females carry their babies in these pouches for about 50 days after they are born. Bandicoots can reach sexual maturity as early as 90 days of age. Bandicoots are polyestrous, which means that they are able to reproduce several times a year. The gestation period in this species is only 12.5 days. This gives Bandicoots the highest reproductive rate of all marsupials. Typically there are 4 babies in the pouch at one time, but up to 5 have been found. (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak; 1991)
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Short nosed bandicoots are solitary animals, which usually only come together to mate. They are highly aggressive and territorial. Territories of same sex members do not overlap. (Nowak, 1991)
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Isoodon obesulus are omnivores. They feed on soil invertebrates and insects as well as fruits, seeds, fungi, and some plant fibers. They favor insects and worms. Isoodon obesulus use their sharp claws and pointed noses to dig for food. They use their front legs to repeatedly step on prey that is captured in order to crush it. (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1991)
Conservation Status
Many species of bandicoot have already gone extinct due to habitat loss caused by grazing livestock. Many other species including Isoodon obesulus, are in great danger. In Australia the decline of bandicoots is worse than the decline of any other marsupial. (Macdonald, 1984)
Other Comments
There are 7 species of Short nosed bandicoots. The life expectancy of Isoodon obesulus is 2.5 to 3 years.
(Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1991)
For More Information
Find Isoodon obesulus information at
Contributors
Rebecca Anderson (author), University of Michigan.
