Golden Bandicoot

Taxobox
name = Golden BandicootMSW3 Groves|pages=39]
status = VU
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006 | assessors = Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group | year = 1996 | title = Isoodon auratus | id = 10863 | downloaded = 2007-12-26]


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Peramelemorphia
familia = Peramelidae
genus = "Isoodon"
species = "I. auratus"
binomial = "Isoodon auratus"
binomial_authority = (Ramsay, 1887)

The Golden Bandicoot ("Isoodon auratus") is a short-nosed bandicoot found in northern Australia. It is by far the smallest of its genus, being a little over half the size of its relatives the Northern Brown Bandicoot ("I. macrourus") and the Southern Brown Bandicoot ("I. obesulus").cite book | last = Menkhorst | first = Peter | year = 2001 | title = A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 76]

The Golden Bandicoot is now a threatened species. It was once found throughout much of northwestern Australia, with even a patch on the New South Wales/South Australia border, but it is now restricted to the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and to Augustus, Barrow and Middle Islands off Western Australia ("I. auratus barrowensis") and Marchinbar Island of Northern Territory. It is distinguished from the brown bandicoots by its golden colouring and much smaller size.

References