Bandicoots are small, terrestrial marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, recognized for their long snouts and powerful digging claws. These animals are a common, though often unseen, presence across a diverse range of habitats, from rainforests to suburban gardens. They are classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet is highly varied.
Primary Food Sources
The bandicoot diet is heavily centered on animal matter, particularly the invertebrates found in soil and leaf litter. Their dentition is specialized, featuring small, sharp teeth ideal for crushing insect exoskeletons. They consume a wide array of underground prey, including beetle larvae, earthworms, spiders, and crickets, which often form the bulk of their meals.
Fungi represent another significant part of the bandicoot’s diet, especially underground types like truffles and mycorrhizal fungi. By eating these fungi, bandicoots play a beneficial role in the ecosystem, inadvertently dispersing spores through their scat. This dispersal is important for mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with plant roots and aid in nutrient uptake.
Plant material is also included in their omnivorous menu, serving as both a supplemental food source and a source of moisture. They consume roots, tubers, bulbs, and seeds, which they often unearth while foraging. Fallen fruit and berries are also eaten when invertebrate prey becomes scarce.
Foraging Behavior and Techniques
Bandicoots are primarily nocturnal, emerging from their shallow, camouflaged nests at dusk to begin searching for food. They rely on an extremely sensitive sense of smell to locate prey, which is often buried several centimeters below the surface. Their long, pointed snouts and large ears help them navigate and detect subtle movements in the dark.
The most recognizable sign of a bandicoot’s feeding activity is the presence of small, conical holes, sometimes called “snout pokes,” left in the soil. Once a scent is detected, the bandicoot uses its strong foreclaws to quickly excavate a finger-deep, cone-shaped pit. A single animal can dig dozens of these holes in a night, demonstrating the efficiency of their specialized digging technique.
Their digging is not only fast but also precise, allowing them to rapidly scoop out soil to reach the discovered item. The long, narrow muzzle then probes the bottom of the hole to secure the invertebrate, root, or fungus. A single southern brown bandicoot, for example, is estimated to excavate around 3.9 tonnes of soil annually through this constant foraging.
Dietary Flexibility and Regional Variation
The specific make-up of a bandicoot’s diet is highly dependent on its species, habitat, and the availability of resources throughout the year. Bandicoots inhabiting arid or semi-arid zones may consume a higher proportion of plant tubers and roots. These underground plant parts provide them with both energy and a crucial source of water.
Conversely, species found in wetter areas, such as rainforests, tend to consume more arthropods due to the abundance of insect life in the leaf litter. Seasonal changes also influence food choices, with bandicoots shifting their focus to fallen fruits or seeds when they are in season. This adaptability allows them to persist in a wide variety of Australian and New Guinean ecosystems.
Bandicoots living near human settlements, such as the Long-nosed or Northern Brown Bandicoot, display an opportunistic nature by incorporating introduced food sources into their diet. They often consume garden pests like scarab beetle larvae, effectively acting as a natural pest controller for suburban lawns. They may also scavenge for scraps or fallen pet food, demonstrating their ability to thrive in modified environments.