Bandicoot << BAN duh koot or BAN dih koot >> is a small mammal of Australia and New Guinea. There are about 20 species (kinds). Most bandicoots weigh less than 2 pounds (0.9 kilogram). Their coarse fur is chiefly brown or gray. They have a long, narrow head and sharp teeth. The second and third toes of their hind feet are joined.
Bandicoots live in a variety of habitats. These include forests, woodlands, grasslands, and arid (dry) areas. Bandicoots dig burrows, or they build nests on the ground, using sticks and leaves. They eat mostly insects, spiders, worms, tubers, and fruit.
Bandicoots are marsupials. Female marsupials give birth to tiny, poorly developed young after a short pregnancy. Like most marsupials, young bandicoots are carried in a pouch on the mother’s belly until they develop more completely. One species of bandicoot, the bilby or rabbit-eared bandicoot, is known for its long pinkish ears. Certain rats of India and Sri Lanka also are called bandicoots. But they are not marsupials.
