| Eastern Bettong[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Potoroidae |
| Genus: | Bettongia |
| Species: | B. gaimardi |
| Binomial name | |
| Bettongia gaimardi (Desmarest, 1822) |
|
| Subspecies | |
|
Bettongia gaimardi cuniculus |
|
| Present distribution of Bettongia gaimardi | |
The Eastern Bettong (Bettongia gaimardi), also known as the Southern Bettong and Tasmanian Bettong, is a bettong whose natural range includes south-eastern Australia and the eastern part of Tasmania.[1][3]
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Two species Bettongia cuniculus (Tasmanian Bettong) and Bettongia gaimardi (Eastern Bettong) have been placed into a single species with two subspecies by Wakefield in 1967[4][5]. The two recognised subspecies are:
Following the introduction of the red fox and European rabbit to Australia, the mainland subspecies became extinct around the 1920s[2][5] The Tasmanian subspecies is still extant[2].
The Eastern Bettong is a nocturnal animal. During the day it sleeps in a nest it constructs out of grasses and leaves. A major component of its diet is underground fungi related to truffles, but it is also happy to dig up roots and tubers as well. Insects and grubs are also eaten when encountered. It is unique in that it will travel up to 1.5 km from its nest to a feeding area, which is a considerable distance for a creature that rarely exceeds 2 kg in mass.[6]
This bettong's habitat is open woodlands at altitudes between sea-level and 1000 m. (The highest point on Tasmania is at 1617 m.) The bettong usually nests in dry open eucalypt forests and grassy woodlands, sleeping during the day in a domed, grass nest that is well camouflaged and built by collecting nesting material bundled and transported to it in its curved prehensile tail[6].
Like other bettongs, the Eastern Bettong is a continuous breeder with a gestation period of only three weeks. They produce young all year.[7]
While the mainland population became extinct in the first decades of the 20th century[2][5], the Tasmanian population has been regarded as secure[2]. One concern is that most of the bettongs are found on private land, with only two groups found within reserves. The introduction of red foxes to Tasmania is a major threat to this population.[8][9]. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has raised the threat status for Eastern Bettongs from Least Concern to Near Threatened based on the threat from foxes.[2]