Macrotis leucura
lesser bilby

The lesser bilby lives in central Australia (Bilbies 1982).

Lesser bilbies can be found in woodlands, savannah, shrub grasslands, or deserts that are sparsly vegetated (Bilbies 1983).

Bilbies are sexually dimorphic, with males being larger than females. Body length of male bilbies ranges from 365-440 mm, female body length ranges from 320 to 390mm (Bright 1993). Lesser bilbies have long tails ranging from 115 to 275 mm in length, and a pouch that opens downwards and backwards. The upper surface of the body is a light color, usually gray, and the underparts are white. The tail is white, with a gray line extending to the rear of the body. Bilbies also have very long, pointed, rabbit-like ears. A unique characteristic of lesser bilbies are their feet, which bear three stout toes with curved claws, the remaining two toes are very small. Their hind feet posses only three toes. The first toe is made up of the fusion of digits 2 and 3, the second toe (digit 4) is very large, and the last toe (digit 5) is an average size, the first digit is missing (Bilbies 1983).

Lesser bilbies breed between the months of March and May (Bilbies 1983). The gestation period is 21 days. Lesser bilbies possess a pouch. Young remain in the pouch for 70 to 75 days where they suckle, they are attached to one of the mother's nipples during that time. Fourteen days after leaving the pouch the young begin to be weaned (Wombats 1997). Litter size is typically 1 to 3 newborns (Bilbies 1983). Mating occurs again 50 days after a litter is born (Schneider 1990).

Lesser bilbies are terrestrial, nocturnal desert mammals (Schneider 1990). They sleep sitting up, unlike other animals. They squat on their hind legs, tuck their muzzle between their legs, fold their long ears over their eyes, and sleep (Bilbies 1983). Due to their poor eye sight, lesser bilbies rely on their keen sense of smell and hearing to capture food. Their main predators are introduced foxes and cats, birds of prey, monitor lizards, and predatory marsupials. Lesser bilbies are solitary, with a home range occupied only by a female, male, and their young. Lesser bilbies are distinguished by their digging abilities, they den in a network of spiral tunnels in sand dunes. These tunnels are about 9 feet in length and 5 feet in depth. The opening of the tunnel is concealed to prevent enemeies from entering the nest (Schneider 1990).

Lesser bilbies are omnivorous, feeding mainly on small insects, fruit, and seeds. Their diet consists primarily of ants, termites, beetles, larvae, seeds, fruits, and fungi (Schneider 1990). Bilbies do not need to drink water, the water they recieve from the fruit and seeds is sufficient (Wombats 1997). Their desert habitat is a harsh one and when food is scarce female lesser bilbies may resort to eating their young to survive (Schneider 1990).

Lesser bilbies were once hunted by humans for their smooth, silky fur (Wombats 1997).

None known.

Lesser bilbies were once common but populations declined drastically as a result of trapping for pelts, predation by introduced foxes, and competition with introduced rabbits for forage and burrows. Lesser bilbies were last collected in 1931 and they are considered extinct (Schneider 1990).