Giant bandicoot[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Peramelemorphia |
Family: | Peramelidae |
Genus: | Peroryctes |
Species: | P. broadbenti
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Binomial name | |
Peroryctes broadbenti (Ramsay, 1879)
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Giant bandicoot range |
The giant bandicoot (Peroryctes broadbenti) is a species of marsupial in the family Peramelidae endemic to Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.[2]
The type locality is Papua New Guinea, Central Province, banks of the Goldie River (a tributary of the Laloki River), inland from Port Moresby.
Of the 11 species of bandicoots on mainland Papua New Guinea, the giant bandicoot is the only bandicoot species that weighs more than 2 kg (4.4 lb). The giant bandicoot is more than twice the weight of other bandicoots and adult males of the species can attain weights well in excess of 4 kg (8.8 lb).[3]