Eleven kinds of bandicoots live in Australia. Some also live in New Guinea. Certain bandicoots are endangered or extinct. The southern brown bandicoot is endangered. The Eastern barred bandicoot is also endangered. The pig-footed bandicoot is extinct.

The bandicoot is a small marsupial. A marsupial has a pouch. The bandicoot pouch opens to the back. The backward pouch keeps out the dirt. The bandicoot fur is brown or gray. It has a long nose. The nose is pointed for digging. It also has sharp teeth.

A bandicoot mother builds a nest in a shallow hole. She lines the nest with leaves. A bandicoot baby is born in only 12 days! A mother bandicoot has two or three babies at a time. The babies stay in the mother’s pouch for 50 days.

The bandicoot is a shy animal. It likes to be alone. The bandicoot is nocturnal. It digs around looking for food at night. The bandicoot does a lot of digging! It makes holes in lawns with its long snout.

People are trying to save all the different kinds of bandicoots. The bandicoot is now protected in Australia.