Pig-footed bandicoot

Pig- bandicoot

The Pig- nose Beutler ( Chaeropus Ecaudatus ) is an extinct Beutelsäugerart from the order of bandicoots ( Peramelemorphia ).

Dissemination

The Pig- bandicoot occurred throughout the central and southern part of Australia.

Description

Especially the feet distinguish this species from the other bandicoots. They were long and thin, the forelimbs had only two toes with claws hufartigen, with the hind feet, the fourth toe was used for locomotion only. The similarity of the front legs with those of cloven-hoofed animals (such as pigs ) has given them their name. The skin was grayish brown to orange, the muzzle like all bandicoots pointed. The ears were long and were similar to those of the bilby. The body length of Pig- bandicoot amounted to approximately 25 cm, the tail was approximately 10 to 15 cm long.

Way of life

Pig- bandicoot lived next to desert-like areas and grasslands and bushy areas. They should not have been quite as active at night as the other bandicoots. As Resting Places grass nests or flat Erdmulden served. What was interesting was the way of locomotion: while similar to a hare hopped in search of food, they were able to reach high speeds with a galloping run to escape from enemies. Pig- bandicoot were loners.

Food

Teeth and digestive system suggest that Pig- bandicoot were mainly herbivores. With their sense of smell they sought grasses and roots that they dug up with his front paws. Reports of the Aborigines suggest that they took next to termites and ants to him.

Reproduction

After twelve days of pregnancy from two to four pups were born, which remained around 50 days in the mother's pouch. The open back bags contained eight teats, suggesting that the females brought a new litter born immediately after weaning. The teats swelled suckling, so that the newborn is attached to the other.

Extinction

The last time the Pig- bandicoot 1901 safe sighted. However, according to reports of the Aborigines they could have survived in desert areas until the 1950s. The main reason for the extinction may have been the large-scale changes in the habitat, the end of traditional small-scale slash and burn of the Aborigines, who caused a patchwork of fresh and spent neubegrünten areas that served these animals as living space. This was associated with the conversion of large areas in grazing land for sheep and cattle. Only a minor role played arguably the enactment by introduced predators like cats and foxes.

System

The Pig- bandicoot is systematically the sister taxon of all other bandicoots, he is therefore now placed in a separate family, Chaeropodidae.