The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a small, distinctive marsupial native to Australia. It is best known for its striking striped back, its termite-based diet, and its unusual lifestyle—unlike many marsupials, it is active in daylight. Today, numbats survive in only a few remaining strongholds due to habitat change and introduced predators.
Key Characteristics of the Numbat
Numbats have a unique combination of physical traits that make them easy to recognize.
Size and body shape
Body length: about 35–45 cm, including a bushy tail.
Weight: typically 280–700 g.
Build: compact body with short, sturdy limbs and strong claws for digging.
Coat pattern and facial markings
Color: reddish-brown on the head and upper body.
Back stripes: bold white and black bands across the back, which help break up its outline in dappled woodland light.
Face stripe: a dark stripe edged in pale fur runs from the ear toward the snout.
A marsupial without a pouch
Unlike most marsupials, the numbat does not have a true pouch.
Newborns are tiny and underdeveloped; they cling to the mother’s nipples under her fur for roughly four months as they grow.
Habitat and Distribution
Numbats once ranged across large areas of southern Australia, but their modern distribution is much smaller.
Where numbats live today
They are now found mainly in Western Australia, with the best-known remaining natural populations in protected areas such as the Dryandra Woodland and the Tone–Perup region.
Preferred habitat features
Eucalypt woodlands with low shrubs and ground cover.
Areas with fallen branches, bark, and leaf litter—key places where termites live and travel.
Burrows and shelters: numbats dig their own burrows for refuge and breeding, and may also reuse tunnels abandoned by other animals.
Nesting material: they build nests using leaves and grasses, often tucked into a hollow log or a protected burrow chamber.
Diet: A Specialist Termite Eater
The numbat is a myrmecophagous marsupial, meaning it feeds almost entirely on termites.
How numbats hunt termites
Long, narrow snout helps them probe into termite tunnels and crevices in wood.
Sticky tongue is used to collect termites quickly, especially when termites are moving through galleries.
Strong claws allow them to scrape leaf litter and pry into rotting wood to reach hidden termite pathways.
Daily activity and intake
Numbats are fully diurnal (active during the day), which is unusual among Australian marsupials.
They can consume an impressive number of termites—often cited as up to about 20,000 termites in a day, depending on availability.
They get much of their moisture from their food, helping them cope in relatively dry environments.
Reproduction and Early Life
Numbats have a seasonal breeding pattern and a short pregnancy, followed by an extended period of maternal care.
Mating system and breeding season
Polygamous: males and females typically come together only during the breeding season.
Timing: mating usually occurs between December and April.
Pregnancy and young
Gestation: very short—around 14 days.
Litter size: usually 2 to 4 young.
Newborns are extremely small and undeveloped, then attach to nipples under the mother’s fur for about four months.
Development and independence
After about four months, the young begin to venture out and may be left in a burrow while the mother forages.
By around six months, they start eating termites.
They continue to rely on the mother for guidance and occasional nursing as they transition toward independence.
Threats and Conservation
The numbat’s decline is strongly linked to introduced predators and habitat changes.
Main threats
Introduced predators: especially red foxes and feral cats, which have had a severe impact on numbat survival.
Habitat loss and fragmentation: land clearing, development, and altered fire regimes reduce safe shelter and disrupt termite availability.
Natural predators: in the wild, numbats can also be taken by large reptiles and snakes, but introduced predators are the most damaging pressure today.
Conservation actions
Predator control (fox/cat management) in key habitats.
Captive breeding and reintroduction programs that release numbats into protected or fenced areas.
Habitat protection and restoration of suitable eucalypt woodland ecosystems.
These measures are essential because remaining wild populations are small and vulnerable to sudden losses.
Interesting Facts About Numbats
State symbol: the numbat is the faunal emblem of Western Australia.
Fast escape: when threatened, it can sprint at speeds reported up to about 32 km/h to reach a burrow or log shelter.
Termite “tracking”: it uses a keen sense of smell to locate termite tunnels close beneath the surface.
Water from food: numbats obtain much of their hydration from termites, reducing the need to drink frequently.
Daylight hunter: being active during the day helps it exploit termite movement patterns and may reduce competition with nocturnal insect-eaters.
The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a small, distinctive marsupial native to Australia. It is best known for its striking striped back, its termite-based diet, and its unusual lifestyle—unlike many marsupials, it is active in daylight. Today, numbats survive in only a few remaining strongholds due to habitat change and introduced predators.
