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The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), a close relative of the bandicoot, is now grappling with habitat loss due to human activities and the changing climate. Image credit: Auscape/UIG/Getty Images.Picture the bandicoot: a small, pointy-nosed Australian marsupial that resembles a fuzzy armadillo, but with a strangely adorable look like a cross between a rabbit, mouse, or kangaroo. It's hard to pinpoint. Now imagine that this creature, which might be a new discovery to you, belongs to an ancient group of animals that have survived through multiple extreme climate changes and are now teetering on the brink of extinction.
There are over 20 species of bandicoots and bilbies, members of the Peramelemorphia order, living in Australia and New Guinea. These animals fill ecological roles similar to rodents and rabbits elsewhere, thriving in diverse environments like deserts, rainforests, and feeding on everything from plants to insects.
An Eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) searches for food in the wild.
Photo by Steve Kaufman/Getty ImagesCurrently, none of the species are thriving, primarily due to habitat destruction, invasive predators, and human poaching. A recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals that bandicoots are not only older than previously believed but have likely encountered similar environmental challenges, including climate change, over time. This makes their current struggle, after surviving through so many years, even more concerning.
Research based on both extinct bandicoot fossils and modern DNA shows that between 5 and 10 million years ago, drier conditions in Australia led to the extinction of some ancient bandicoot species. This also marked the emergence of the species we see today. Some of these ancient fossils, such as bandicoot teeth, are believed to be as old as 50 million years, while others date back to 25 million years. In comparison, no living bandicoot species are older than 5 million years.
"As rainforests retreated and grasslands expanded, ecosystems shifted between 5-10 million years ago, but instead of complete extinction, Australian fauna likely adapted by adjusting their distribution," says Dr. Michael Westerman of La Trobe University in a press release about the study. "This aligns with our DNA findings, suggesting that desert-dwelling bandicoots predate the arid conditions by as much as 40 million years."
The study highlights that climate change led to the extinction of several bandicoot species long ago. Though some survived, Australia's marsupials and mammals remain highly vulnerable to today's human-induced climate change. Saving the bandicoot has become crucial, as it faces severe threats from hunting, invasive predators, and habitat destruction.
"Bandicoots, like many other marsupials of Australasia, likely inhabited various environments over millions of years," explains Dr. Benjamin Kear, the lead author of the study, from the Museum of Evolution at Uppsala University, in a press release. "However, the implications of our findings are critical for future conservation efforts. Arid zone bandicoots are now among the most endangered mammals in Australasia, with several species having disappeared in the past century. By highlighting their deep evolutionary roots, we aim to stress the urgent need to protect these living fossils as part of Australia's distinctive biodiversity."
In order to protect the bandicoot species of Australia and New Guinea amidst climate change, efforts must go beyond merely monitoring roadways.
Photo by Steve Kaufman/Getty ImagesAustralia is home to approximately 150 marsupial species, which include kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, possums, gliders, bilbies, and, of course, bandicoots.
