Eastern barred bandicoot  (Perameles gunnii)

Range

There are two very distinct populations of the eastern barred bandicoot, often considered to be subspecies: the mainland subspecies and the Tasmanian subspecies. The mainland subspecies was formerly distributed across south-eastern South Australia and Victoria, but is now thought extinct in South Australia, as it has not been seen there for over 100 years (6) (7), and is extremely rare in Victoria, largely restricted to the basalt plains extending from near the South Australian border to the Melbourne area (1) (7). The other subspecies is found only in Tasmania (1).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Habitat

Original native habitat is grassland and grassy woodland, usually on flat or gently rolling plains (1), particularly along watercourses (7). In more recent years, the eastern barred bandicoot has adapted to living in highly modified habitats such as tree plantations, farmland, gardens, parklands, rubbish tips, cemeteries and under out-buildings. These areas are often dominated by introduced weed species, providing areas of dense cover close to suitable feeding habitat (1) (7).

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