Bilby

Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), also called greater bilby, dalgyte, or greater rabbit-eared bandicoot. They are small, burrowing, nocturnal, long-eared marsupial belonging to the family Thylacomyidae (order Peramelemorphia) and native to Australia. Bilbies are omnivorous. In addition to consuming the seeds of native grasses, plant bulbs, and fruits, bilbies prey upon insects (such as termites), worms, and small lizards and mammals. Many bilbies are killed annually by native predators such as wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), carpet pythons (Morelia spilota), and monitor lizards (family Varanidae). But invasive animals like red foxes, feral cats, and dingoes are largely to blame for bilby mortality, as well as dingoes.

Uniquely, bilby burrows spiral downward, providing the animal with an additional layer of protection from potential predators. A bilby frequently has more than one of the tunnels, which can be up to 10 feet long and 6.5 feet deep. Young bilbies remain in the burrow after they have left their mother's pouch while she departs to graze at dusk.