Macrotis lagotis
kingdom | Animalia (animals) phylum | Chordata (chordates) class | Mammalia (mammals) order | Peramelemorphia (bandicoots and bilbies) family | Thylacomyidae (bilbies) genus | Macrotis (bilby) species | Macrotis lagotis (greater bilby)
lifespan | (72 to 84) months maximum recorded lifespan | 9.6 years (in captivity) length | (11 to 22) inches weight | (21 to 88) oz (ounces)
head and body length | 18 inches
body temperature | 95 °F (degrees Fahrenheit) (human: 96.1 to 101 °F)
(typical values, except where otherwise noted)
| sequence length | genes | RNA structures | proteins mitochondrion | 15289 | 13 | 23 | 13 (partial chromosome sequence coverage)
Reid, 1837
Macrotis leucura (lesser bilby)
The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), or simply the bilby, is a long-eared, rabbit-like mammal native to Australia. It lives in burrows and is active at night, feeding on insects, fruit, or fungi. The bilby is a marsupial and carries its young in a pouch. Threats include habitat loss, disease, and introduced predators such as foxes. Formerly widespread, bilbies are now restricted to arid parts of northwestern and central Australia.
