About Bettongia gaimardi (Desmarest, 1822)
Common Names
The eastern bettong (Bettongia gaimardi) is also called the southern bettong or Tasmanian bettong.
Morphology & Native Range
It is a small, hopping, rat-like mammal that is native to grassy forests of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
Taxonomy
It belongs to the rat-kangaroo family Potoroidae.
Activity & Diet
It is active during the night, and feeds on fungi and plant roots.
Reproductive Trait
Like most marsupials, it carries its young in a pouch.
Conservation Threats
The eastern bettong is currently threatened by introduced predators and habitat loss.
Subspecies Status
The mainland Australian subspecies, B. g. gaimardi, is extinct, but populations of the Tasmanian subspecies, B. g. cuniculus, have been reintroduced to mainland Australia.
Cultural Significance
The Ngunnawal Aboriginal people call this animal balbo, and they historically kept these bettongs as pets.
