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Brush-tailed Bettong

Role: Soil engineer

Known as a soil engineer, the Brush-tailed Bettong helps spread fungal spores and seeds, creating a better home and environment for plants and other wildlife. Their long tails are prehensile, meaning they can use it like an extra limb to pick up and carry objects like grass and branches.

DESCRIPTION

Small marsupial measuring between 28-45 cm from their head to the base of their tail. Grey-brown coloured fur that covers their entire body and a furry tail that ends in a dark brown/black tip.

HABITAT

Native vegetation with a thick, often shrubby understorey; examples include dense patches of bracken fern and yakkas which are at least knee high and difficult to walk through.

THREATS

Vegetation clearance, predation by foxes and cats.

DIET

Roots, legume pods, tubers, bulbs, seeds, insects and carrion. But the bulk of their nutrients come from underground fungi - truffles - which they dig out using their strong foreclaws.

BEHAVIOUR

Nocturnal. Well-developed sense of smell and communicate with each other through scent. Breed all year round and following the birth of the juvenile, a mother will mate again straight away.