| Greater bilby | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bilby (right) and spinifex hopping mouse at Sydney Wildlife World | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Peramelemorphia |
| Family: | Thylacomyidae |
| Genus: | Macrotis |
| Species: | M. lagotis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Macrotis lagotis Reid, 1837[3]
| |
| |
| Distribution of greater bilbies | |
The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), or simply the bilby, is a long-eared, rabbit-like mammal native to Australia. It lives in burrows and is active at night, feeding on insects, fruit, or fungi. The bilby is a marsupial and carries its young in a pouch. Threats include habitat loss, disease, and introduced predators such as foxes. Formerly widespread, bilbies are now restricted to arid parts of northwestern and central Australia.
It is commonly called bilby after the lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura) became extinct in the 1950s. Other names include dalgyte, pinkie, or rabbit-eared bandicoot.
- ^ Burbidge, A.A.; Woinarski, J. (2016). "Macrotis lagotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T12650A21967189. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T12650A21967189.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Reid, J. (1837). "Description of a new species of the genus Perameles (P. lagotis)". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1836: 129–131.