Once widespread across northern, central, and western Australia, this shimmering, golden-furred mammal now survives mainly on a handful of offshore islands and remote mainland pockets. Its striking appearance, compact build, and quiet, nocturnal habits make it a fascinating representative of Australia’s unique marsupial diversity.
The most immediately noticeable feature of the Golden bandicoot is its beautiful coat, which ranges from warm gold to coppery brown. The fur is short, dense, and almost silky, giving the animal its name and helping it blend into the red soils and dry grasses of its arid habitats. It is the smallest of Australia’s bandicoot species, with a pointed snout, small, rounded ears, and dark, beady eyes that give it an endearing, mouse-like appearance, while its powerful hind limbs and curved claws reveal its digging lifestyle.
Golden bandicoots are nocturnal, emerging at dusk to forage for food. Their diet is broad and flexible, consisting of insects, larvae, spiders, seeds, fungi, bulbs, and plant roots. They locate prey with a highly developed sense of smell, digging small conical holes in the soil to uncover hidden invertebrates. These foraging pits act as natural soil aerators, helping to mix nutrients and improve water penetration—an important process in arid environments where soil health is fragile. Because of this, the Golden bandicoot is considered an ecological engineer, subtly shaping the land through its nightly activities.
During the day, the Golden bandicoot shelters in nests made from leaves, grasses, and sticks, which it constructs in shallow depressions or between rocks and shrubs. These nests offer protection from predators and extreme daytime temperatures. Bandicoots are generally solitary except during the breeding season, though individuals may share overlapping home ranges. Females breed frequently and can raise several litters per year. Like other marsupials, they give birth to tiny, underdeveloped young that continue growing in the pouch.
Distribution
Australia
Official estimate
Australia
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
