Scientific name:
Myrmecobius fasciatus

Natural spread:
Australia

welfare is the Ameisenbeutler or Numbat one of the prettiest marsupials, as it is named in its home. it is approximately rat-big, has a bushy tail like our squirrels and a flat head similarly with long, pointed muzzle. The eyes are big and dark. The long fur is bay on the back and becomes gradually darker to the back. The tail-root is brown-black. The body-underside and the legs with its sallow white forms a beautiful color-like contrast to it. Over the back, white cross-bandages run, whose number can fluctuate between 6 and 12. The tail is tawny with dark-dreads speckles. A black eye-strip, that is bordered oberseits and unterseits from white vertical stripes, almost gives a sly look to the animal together with the pointed nose.

The body-height amounts to approximately 8 cm, the total-length 40 cm. Approximately 17 cm of those are allotted to the tail. The front-feet carry 5, the rear-feet 4 toes; the big-toe behind is receded. The jaws are busy with 50 relatively small and weak teeth. This denture is arranged whole for the mastication of insects and for the catch of the food-animals without meaning. So it is not remarkable that degenerations of individual teeth occur again and again and even occasionally different numbers occur in both jaw-halves. Most important organ at the food-acquisition is the very long, thin and far before-extensible tongue. There are descriptions, after what Numbats stuck out its tongue up to 10 cm far, which are undoubtedly remarkable for animals with a length of approximately 23 cm. Contrary to its name, Ameisenbeutler don't possess any bag. A row of other characteristics distinguishes it however unequivocally as marsupials.

Way of life A large part of that, what one knows about Ameisenbeutler, is supported by little, often accidental observations of freedom and captivity. Our present-day knowledge about these animals still is very low unfortunately.

Numbats Tagtiere are in contrast to most remaining marsupials. In southwest-Australia, one finds it in the eucalyptus-forests where they catch termites and other insects. Dilapidated trees offer food and simultaneously shelter amply for it to the termites, its main-loot, themselves. Ameisenbeutler spend the largest part of the day with food-search. its good sense of smell is included a valuable help for them. If they spot termites or ants in the ground, so begin to dig it hastily and lick up the wildly mixed up-running loot fast. As quite good climbers, they need not to restrict themselves to the ground at its hunt. they find its food in higher stubs as well. Rotten wood is broken open with the powerful claws of the front-paws, and then, the very movable tongue begins its nimble activity again. The Kerbtiere are not sure also in its walks, because the long tongue still reaches it there.

Apartment Numbats never dig even Erdhöhlen but only cover the empty holes of other animals occasionally. In the evening, they retreat into hollow trees where they sleep in its soft nest from dry foliage and grass very firmly. Since they are dependent on tree-caves as roosts, fires, that often are started by the settlers as planned, form a severe danger for it. its spread probably is limited on the eucalyptus-forests Südwest-Australiens today.

Reproduction Ameisenbeutler have up to 4 young, that were born in hollow trees or Erdhöhlen between Januaries and Mays. The duration of the Tragzeit is not known. After the birth, the young soak firmly at the mother's teats and are taken so everywhere. Since however, Numbats don't have any bag, the tiny animals hang down freely from the stomach of the dam, and only the long, shaggy stomach-hair offers some protection to them. In the age of barely 1 years, the boys leave the residential-area.

Endangering It is very remarkable that Ameisenbeutler of no defense-willingness show if they are attacked. Driven into the narrowness, they let a deep, guttural snarl or hiss heard, doesn't fight back, however. Even female animals with boys don't attack with threat: a quality, that frequently Dingos, foxes, it gripping-birds to the easy prey of its enemies - Raubbeutler -, lets become, so that the Ameisenbeutler are endangered strongly in its continuance today.