Numbat

The numbat is a small, distinctively striped marsupial and one of the few mammals that feeds almost exclusively on termites. Once widespread across southern Australia, it is now restricted to small fragmented populations in Western Australia. It is diurnal, unlike most marsupials, and is Western Australia's faunal emblem, remarkable for its unique dental structure and reliance on eucalypt woodland habitats.

Southwestern Australia, primarily Western Australia

Historically found across southern Australia from Western Australia to New South Wales; now confined to small remnant populations in southwestern Western Australia, notably Dryandra Woodland and Perup Nature Reserve, with reintroduced populations in fenced sanctuaries in NSW and South Australia.

Altitude and depth

Typically found at low elevations, generally below 500m above sea level.

Seasonal movements

No migration or hibernation; numbats remain active year-round, though foraging effort increases in winter when termites are less active near the surface.

Eucalypt woodlands, particularly wandoo and jarrah forests, with hollow logs and leaf litter essential for shelter and termite foraging. Also found in some shrubland and semi-arid woodland habitats historically.

Adaptations to its environment

Numbats possess a long sticky tongue and reduced, peg-like teeth adapted for a specialized termite diet. Their striped coat provides camouflage in dappled woodland light, and they rely on keen eyesight and hollow logs for predator avoidance rather than burrowing.

Endangered (IUCN); the species has suffered a drastic range contraction of over 99% since European settlement due to predation and habitat loss, with only a few isolated wild populations remaining.

Estimated population

Estimated fewer than 1,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild, with a declining to stable trend depending on managed reintroduction sites.

Predation by introduced red foxes and feral cats, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and increased bushfire frequency are the primary threats.

Diseases and parasites

Limited data exists, but numbats can be affected by parasites such as ticks and have shown susceptibility to stress-related illness in captivity.

Conservation programs include predator-proof fenced sanctuaries, fox and cat control programs, captive breeding and reintroduction efforts by organizations like Perth Zoo and Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and protection under Australian federal and state law.

Recommended actions

Priority actions include expanding predator-free reserves, continuing genetic management of captive populations, habitat restoration, and long-term monitoring of reintroduced populations.

Numbats have reddish-brown to grayish fur with 6-11 distinct white stripes across the lower back, a dark stripe through the eye, and a long bushy tail. Their pointed snout and small mouth are adapted for termite feeding.

Size

Body length 35-45 cm including a bushy tail of about 13-17 cm.

Weight

Adults typically weigh between 280-700 grams, with males slightly larger than females.

Distinctive features

Unlike most marsupials, numbats are diurnal and lack a pouch, with young clinging to the mother's fur. Their striped pattern and specialized termite-only diet distinguish them from other dasyuromorphs.

Differences between males and females

Minimal sexual dimorphism; males are slightly larger than females but coloration and markings are similar.

Numbats are solitary animals, with individuals maintaining and defending territories, coming together only briefly during the breeding season.

When it is active

Strictly diurnal, foraging for termites during the day and sheltering in hollow logs or burrows at night to avoid nocturnal predators.

Diet

Highly specialized insectivore feeding almost exclusively on termites, consuming up to 20,000 individuals per day using its long sticky tongue.

How it feeds and hunts

Numbats use keen smell and hearing to locate termite galleries, then dig into soil or wood with strong foreclaws and extract termites with their long, sticky tongue.

Communication

Numbats communicate through scent marking, body postures, and limited vocalizations such as soft clicks or hisses when threatened.

Interactions with other species

Major predators include red foxes, feral cats, and birds of prey; numbats have limited direct competition with other termite specialists due to their unique niche.

Role in its ecosystem

As specialized termite predators, numbats help regulate termite populations and are considered an indicator species for the health of eucalypt woodland ecosystems.

Breeding occurs in summer (January-February); after a short gestation of about 2 weeks, females give birth to up to 4 young that attach to teats and are carried for several months.

Raising the young

Young are carried by the mother for about 6 months, first attached to teats and later left in a burrow while she forages, with weaning occurring around 9 months of age.

Maturity and lifespan

Sexual maturity is reached around 12 months; lifespan in the wild is about 5-6 years, while captive individuals may live slightly longer with proper care.

Classification

Class Mammalia > Order Dasyuromorphia > Family Myrmecobiidae > Genus Myrmecobius > Species Myrmecobius fasciatus

Subspecies

Two subspecies historically recognized: Myrmecobius fasciatus fasciatus (southwestern forests) and the now likely extinct M. f. rufus (arid inland regions), though some taxonomists consider these synonymous.

Scientific synonyms

Myrmecobius rufus (historical synonym for the inland form)

Recent studies

Recent research has focused on genetic diversity within fragmented populations and the effectiveness of predator-proof fencing for reintroduction success.

Genome and DNA

The numbat has a diploid chromosome number of 2n=14; genomic studies have highlighted its unique evolutionary lineage within Dasyuromorphia.

Compared with similar species

Unlike most dasyurids which are nocturnal and carnivorous generalists, the numbat is diurnal and a dietary specialist, making it ecologically distinct from relatives like quolls and dunnarts.

The numbat is one of the only diurnal marsupials in Australia; it has no pouch, and it can eat up to 20,000 termites in a single day using its remarkably long tongue.

Where and how to see it

Best observed during daylight hours in Dryandra Woodland or Perup Nature Reserve in Western Australia, particularly in cooler months when numbats are more active in open areas.

Risks to humans

No notable risk to humans; numbats are harmless, shy animals that avoid human contact.

Human uses

Numbats have no significant commercial use but serve as an important conservation flagship species and cultural symbol for Western Australia.

Myths and legends

The numbat holds cultural significance as the faunal emblem of Western Australia and appears in Indigenous Australian folklore in some regions, though specific traditional stories are not widely documented.