ANIMAL: Numbat Myrmecobius fasciatus Type of Animal: Dasyuromorph Habitat: Eucalypt-dominated areas, woodlands, forests, spinifex sandplains, open areas near shrub cover, spinifex grassland, semiarid/arid grassland, shrubland, sand dune terrain, Mediterranean scrub, savanna, desert Location(s): Once found throughout southern Australia, from Western Australia to W New South Wales. Now only found in small pockets of former range. Appearance: Small creature w/ noticeable long bushy tail, soft gray to reddish-brown to rusty orange coloration w/ prominent striping on back, finely pointed snout, small round-tipped ears, & cream/light gray underside Food/Diet: Termites & ants Status in Wild: Endangered Conservation: Reintroductions into areas of former range. Numbat Recovery Team established in 1993. Perth Zoo established breeding/reintroduction program in 1987 (only zoo in world captive breeding numbats). Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Joey Group: Solitary Weight: Male: 0.89-1.65 lbs Female: 0.45-1.425 lbs Gestation: 2 weeks Life Span: 5 years Height: Male: 7 in Female: 5 in Body Length: Male: 8.7-11.4 in Female: 7.9-10.5 in Young: 3 in Tail Length: 4.7-8.2 in, same for both sexes Main predators are foxes, cats, dingos, dogs, predatory birds, snakes, & monitor lizards. Endangered due to habitat fragmentation/loss & introduced predators (cats/foxes/dogs). Active during the day (diurnal). Also called noombat, walpurti, banded anteater, & marsupial anteater. Breed in February & March, w/ females producing 1 litter averaging 4 joeys a year. Primarily uses scent to find food. Highest visual acuity of any marsupial. Numbat joeys stay attached to mom for 5-6 months & leave mom at 10-12 months old. Burrows/logs/tree hollows very important to these animals. Only member of family Myrmecobiidae. These animals less active in cooler months, sometimes sleeping for 15 hours a day. Strong-clawed forefeet come in handy for digging. Long sticky tongues come in handy for eating termites. Females mature at a year old, males mature at 2 years old. Fun Fact(s): They can run almost 20 mph if disturbed. Faunal emblem of Western Australia. These marsupials can easily eat 20,000 termites a day. Only marsupial known to lack pouch, w/ joeys fusing to nipples & clinging to mom. 1st became known to Europeans in 1831.
