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Bandicoots are marsupials meaning it carries its baby in its pouch
on the outside of its tummy. The baby is born really tiny and crawls
into its mother's pouch. The joey lives in its mother's pouch till
its quite large. Even when it's quite large it still drinks milk
from a teat in its mother's pouch |
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They live primarily in Australia and New Guinea, but are also native
to Papua, Indonesia and Tasmania |
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The bandicoot ranges from about 15 to 56 centimeters long and weigh
under 9 kilograms |
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Most species of bandicoot have long noses |
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Bandicoots fight with their hind legs and only bite if they have
to (they have sharp teeth) |
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Bandicoots are very territorial and will attack other bandicoots
that intrude on their territory |
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They use their clawed hind legs for hopping and grooming. Their
second and third toes are attached together |
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Bandicoots have humped backs and thin tails |
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When moving fast, the bandicoot bounds and gallops |
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Bandicoots' fur is orange, gray, brown, and sometimes striped |
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Many species of bandicoot are either rare or extinct |
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They live in forests and other areas densely populated with plants.
This marsupial is usually nocturnal and hides in hollow logs, nests
or crevices |
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They eat insects, small animals, and plants |
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Bandicoots are noted for their remarkable breeding biology. They
have one of the highest breeding rates of any animal of their size.
Their gestation period (the time from conception to birth) is the
shortest recorded for any mammal -- 12 days! |
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Up to six babies are carried in a rear opening pouch, then weaned
at around 9 months |
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