Lesser bilby (SciiFii)

The lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura), also known as the yallara, the lesser rabbit-eared bandicoot or the white-tailed rabbit-eared bandicoot, is a species of rabbit-like marsupial closely related to the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) that is native to Central Australia. The lesser bilby was once extinct since the 1950s, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to Central Australia. The lesser bilby is a medium-sized marsupial with a body mass of 300–435 grams, a combined head-body length of 200–270 millimetres and tail from 120 to 170 mm. Its fur colour ranges from pale yellowish-brown to grey-brown with pale white or yellowish-white fur on its belly, with white limbs and tail. The tail of this animal is long, about 70% of its total head-body length. Macrotis have long fur with a silky texture, the species have long tails and mobile ears that resemble those of a common rabbit (lagomorphs); they are burrowing animals that have long and narrow muzzles. The overall coloration of this species is more subdued than the greater bilby, Macrotis lagotis, and smaller in size; the shorter ears of lesser bilby measures 63 mm from base to tip. The underside of the tail has a greyish patch at the base, but the long and bushy fur is otherwise white. The lesser bilby, like its relatives, is a strictly nocturnal animal. It is an omnivore, feeding mainly on ants, termites, roots, seeds, but it also hunts and feeds on introduced rodents. It burrows in dunes, constructing burrows 2–3 metres (6 ft 7 in–9 ft 10 in) deep and closing the entrance with loose sand by day. It breeds non-seasonally and giving birth to twins is normal for this species. Unlike its relative, the greater bilby, the lesser bilby is aggressive and tenacious. Hedley Finlayson in early-to-mid 1900s wrote that this animal is "fierce and intractable, and repulses the most tactful attempts to handle them by repeating savage snapping bites and harsh hissing sounds". The conservation status of the lesser bilby is Endangered due to historic habitat loss and introduced predators, however, thanks to conservationists, the lesser bilby is a protected species and the introduced predators like feral cats and foxes, as well as invasive competitors such as rabbits, have been eradicated from Australia, allowing Australia to be a safe haven for the indigenous species once more.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii