Overview

The bilby, often called the rabbit-eared bandicoot, is a small to medium-sized marsupial native to arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. It belongs to the order Peramelemorphia and is the best-known member of the bilby group. The animal is frequently described as rabbit-like because of its long ears and soft fur, but it is a true marsupial with a rear-opening pouch adapted for digging. Historically widespread, bilby numbers fell sharply in the 20th century; recent recovery efforts have seen reintroductions to fenced reserves and some mainland areas, including parts of New South Wales.

Appearance and adaptations

Bilbies have a distinctive profile: long, pointed muzzle; large, mobile ears; and a long tail that is often tufted at the tip. They range in body length roughly from the size of a small rabbit to larger dimensions; their fur is soft and typically grey to brown. Key physical and behavioral adaptations include:

  • Hearing and thermoregulation: oversized ears provide acute listening ability for detecting prey and predators and help dissipate heat in hot environments.
  • Digging anatomy: strong, clawed forefeet excavate long, complex burrows that provide shelter from predators and temperature extremes.
  • Pouch orientation: the pouch opens toward the rear so soil and debris do not fill it while the mother digs.
  • Dietary flexibility: omnivorous and primarily nocturnal; they use a long tongue and probing muzzle to locate insects, larvae, seeds, bulbs and fungi and obtain moisture from food rather than from free water.

Habitat, behaviour and lifecycle

Bilbies occupy deserts, dry grasslands, dry forests and shrubby plains. They are solitary and most active at night, spending hot daytime hours in their burrows which may extend over a metre in length. They forage by excavating soil and leaf litter to find invertebrates and plant matter. Reproductive biology reflects marsupial traits: females have a short gestation period followed by a lactation phase in the pouch. Young complete much of their early development while protected inside the pouch.

Conservation status and threats

Once much more widespread, bilbies declined due to habitat loss, grazing by introduced livestock, altered fire regimes, and predation by introduced species such as foxes and feral cats. Conservationists have responded with captive-breeding programs, predator-proof sanctuaries and reintroduction projects. These measures have reduced extinction risk in some areas, though populations remain fragmented and conservation work continues. The species was at one time listed among those in danger of extinction, prompting both scientific and public attention to recovery efforts (endangered).

Human significance and notable facts

Bilbies hold cultural value for Indigenous Australians and have become a modern conservation symbol nationally. The creature has been promoted as an alternative to the Easter Bunny to raise awareness and funds for conservation. Their burrows also contribute to desert ecosystems by aerating soil and creating refuges used by other animals. For those who study or help protect them, bilbies illustrate how targeted conservation actions — habitat protection, predator control and community engagement — can support the recovery of a threatened native mammal.

For general background on similar animals, see resources about bandicoots and their ecology. Additional reading and conservation updates are available through specialist wildlife organizations and regional programs (habitat guides, marsupial summaries, comparative descriptions).