What is a "bandicoot"?

The bandicoot is a small to medium-sized marsupial native to Australia and nearby regions, known for its unique appearance with a long pointed snout, compact body, and strong hind limbs adapted for digging. Bandicoots are primarily insectivorous and have a varied diet that includes insects, small mammals, fruits, and seeds. They are known for their ability to dig burrows and create complex foraging paths, and they are highly adaptable to different habitats, ranging from forests to grasslands and deserts. Bandicoots are marsupials, meaning they give birth to relatively undeveloped young that continue to develop and nurse in a pouch on the mother's belly until they are fully matured.