Males may grow up to half a metre long, with a tail up to 290 millimetres, but females are smaller. Dalgyte, rabbit-eared bandicoot, ninu, walpajirri. Once distributed throughout arid and semi-arid Australia, the bilby is now confined to northern deserts, including parts of the Pilbara. It is a threatened species. This species inhibits open arid country with spinifex grasslands and acacia shrublands.
Bilbies are largely solitary, widely dispersed and found in low numbers.
They are comparatively slow moving but have superb hearing. They also have strong claws and are very efficient burrowers. In sandy soil they can disappear from sight within three minutes. Their burrows go down in a steep spiral to a depth of around two metres. The steep descent makes it very difficult for predators such as foxes and cats to unearth a bilby.