# Greater Bilby (*Macrotis lagotis*)

> The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a long-eared, burrowing bandicoot of arid Australia, nicknamed the "rabbit-eared bandicoot." It digs spiral burrows, eats insects, seeds, and fungi, weighs about 2 kg, and is Vulnerable after foxes, cats, and livestock transformed the deserts.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** Arid Australia; strongholds in Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bilby/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Peramelemorphia
- **Family:** Thylacomyidae
- **Genus:** Macrotis

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Macrotis lagotis |
| Diet | Omnivore (insects, seeds, fungi) |
| Habitat | Desert grasslands and spinifex plains |
| Lifespan | Around 7 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 2 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 25 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Spiral burrows and silky fur

Bilbies dig deep, spiralling burrows that buffer desert heat. Soft grey fur, a black-and-white tail, and enormous ears aid hearing and heat loss. They are nocturnal marsupials.

## Insects, seeds, and fungi

Omnivorous diet includes insect larvae, termites, seeds, bulbs, and underground fungi. They do not need to drink free water when diet moisture suffices.

## Arid Australia strongholds

Desert grasslands and spinifex plains with strongholds in Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland. Once far more widespread across mainland Australia.

## Vulnerable desert engineer

IUCN lists greater bilbies Vulnerable. Fox and cat predation, rabbits competing for burrows, and altered fire regimes remain key threats; reintroductions into fenced havens are expanding.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is the bilby Australia's Easter animal?

Conservation campaigns promote chocolate bilbies instead of rabbits — rabbits being an invasive pest that harmed bilbies.

### Do bilbies dig like rabbits?

They dig extensive burrows but are marsupial bandicoots, not lagomorphs; burrow shape is often spiral.

### What do bilbies eat?

Insects and larvae, seeds, bulbs, and fungi — an arid-zone omnivore diet.

### Are bilbies Endangered?

Greater bilbies are Vulnerable; the lesser bilby is extinct.

### Where do bilbies live?

Arid Australia, especially parts of Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bilby/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.