Also known as Yallara, Lesser Rabbit-eared Bandicoot, White-tailed Rabbit-eared Bandicoot
Lesser bilbies were elusive nocturnal marsupials tailored for surviving the hyper-arid dunefields of central Australia. Unlike their surviving larger cousins, they were notoriously aggressive when handled, hissing and biting fiercely while digging deep, spiraling burrows that plugged behind them with loose sand during the day. Predation by introduced feral cats and red foxes decimated their fragile desert populations, driving the species to extinction by the mid-twentieth century.
ThreatsPredation by introduced red foxes and feral cats, along with altered fire regimes
HabitatsSandy deserts, sand dunes, and tussock grasslands dominated by spinifex
Life span5–8 years
Classification
FamilyThylacomyidae
SpeciesMacrotis leucura
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Extinct species; safe to view preserved specimens in museum archives.
Responsible observation
Museum Collections: Study skins and skeletal specimens in natural history archives to observe its white-crested tail and silky pale fur.
Report Historical Material: Share old subfossil discoveries or indigenous cultural materials with wildlife authorities to enhance the historical record.
