Greater Bilby

Appearance

Greater bilbies have the characteristics of long bandicoot muzzle and very long ears. They are about 29–55 centimetres in length. Compared to bandicoots, they have a longer tail, bigger ears, and softer, silky fur. The size of their ears allows them to have better hearing as well. At 1 to 2.4 kilograms , the male is about the same size as a rabbit; although male animals in good condition have been known to grow up to 3.7 kilograms in captivity. The female is smaller, and weighs around 0.8 to 1.1 kilograms . Bilbies have an excellent sense of smell and sharp hearing. Their fur is blue-grey with patches of tan and is very soft. The tail is black and white with a distinct crest. Bilbies have strong forelimbs and thick claws, which they use to dig for food and make burrows.

Unlike bandicoots, they are excellent burrowers and build extensive tunnel systems with their strong forelimbs and well-developed claws. A bilby typically makes a number of burrows within its home range, up to about a dozen; and moves between them, using them for shelter both from predators and the heat of the day. The female bilby's pouch faces backwards, which prevents her pouch from getting filled with dirt while she is digging.

Naming

The term ''bilby'' is a loan word from the Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales, meaning long-nosed rat. It is known as ''dalgite'' in Western Australia, and the nickname ''pinkie'' is sometimes used in South Australia. The Wiradjuri of New South Wales also call it ''bilby''.

Status

Greater bilbies are slowly becoming endangered because of habitat loss and change as well as the competition with other animals. Introduced feral cats and foxes pose a major threat to the bilby's survival, and there is some competition between bilbies and rabbits for food. There is a national recovery plan being developed for saving these animals: this program includes breeding in captivity, monitoring populations, and reestablishing bilbies where they once lived. There have been reasonably successful moves to popularise the bilby as a native alternative to the Easter Bunny by selling chocolate Easter Bilbies . Reintroduction efforts have also begun, with a successful reintroduction into the Arid Recovery Reserve in South Australia in 2000, and plans underway for a reintroduction into Currawinya National Park in Queensland, with a recent success with six bilbies released into the feral-free sanctuary in early February 2006.

News in ''The Courier-Mail'' on 19 July 2012 reporting that the population at Currawinya has been affected by feral cats that gained access into the protected area after the wire netting had rusted after flooding. The high salinity flood water had pooled around sections of the fencing and once parts of it had rusted the cats made their way in through the holes. As of 19 July 2012, no bilbies are said to have been found during an April survey of the area, nor in this current July survey in which the cats have been found.

Successful reintroductions have also occurred onto Peron Peninsula in Western Australia as a part of Western Shield. Successful reintroductions have also occurred on other conservation lands, including islands and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Scotia and Yookamurra Sanctuaries. There is a highly successful bilby breeding program at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, near Perth, Western Australia.

Behavior

In captivity, bilbies typically live for at least five years with some specimens reaching ten years of age. However, wild caught bilbies tend to be less than 12 months old. Females become reproductively active at six months of age and can breed all year round if conditions are favourable.

Greater bilbies have a very short gestation period of about 12–14 days, one of the shortest among mammals. The young are only ¼ of an inch long and very underdeveloped when they are born and they must crawl to the mother’s pouch and latch onto one of her eight teats. They leave the pouch after 70–75 days and remain in the natal burrow for two to three weeks before becoming independent. Litters usually consist of one to three joeys and females can have up to four litters per year in favourable conditions.

Habitat

Once widespread in arid, semi-arid and relatively fertile areas, the bilby is now restricted to arid regions and remains a threatened species. It makes its home in a burrow that spirals down, making it hard for its predators to get in.

The bilby prefers arid habitats because of the spinifex grass and the acacia shrubs....hieroglyph snipped...

Food

Greater bilbies are nocturnal omnivores that do not need to drink water, as they get all the moisture they need from their food, which includes insects and their larvae, seeds, spiders, bulbs, fruit, fungi, and very small animals. Most food is found by digging or scratching in the soil, and using their very long tongues.

Cultural

A National Bilby Day is held in Australia on the second Sunday in September to raise funds for conservation projects.