Mammal · GBIF taxon 2435339
Mouse Bandicoot
Microperoryctes murinaAlso known as Little New Guinea Bandicoot, Murine Bandicoot
Mouse bandicoots are tiny, secretive marsupials that scurry through the dense leaf litter of West Papua's high-elevation forests. They emerge under the cover of night to probe damp moss and decaying logs for insects, worms, and fallen berries using their elongated, sensitive snouts. Females rear small litters within a backward-facing pouch, an evolutionary adaptation that keeps debris out while the mother digs into the forest floor.
NocturnalMarsupialEndemic
Licensed referenceChermundy / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Insects
- Earthworms
- Fallen berries
Predators
- Owls
- Monitor lizards
- Feral dogs
ThreatsHabitat clearing, agricultural encroachment, limited geographic range
HabitatsTropical montane forests, mossy cloud forests
Life span2–4 years
Classification
- FamilyPeramelidae
- SpeciesMicroperoryctes murina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by its miniature mouse-like proportions, dense brownish fur, and slender digging snout.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a respectful distance and avoid disturbing ground nests, moss cushions, or burrows.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Scan the damp undergrowth of montane forests at night using a soft red flashlight.
- Habitat Care: Avoid compacting delicate moss layers or overturning rotting nursery logs.
Close Relative Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova (Italy) / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative Chermundy / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Family Cabrera, Angel; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Spain); Spain. / Public domain · cc0
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