The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is one of Australia’s most iconic native marsupials, instantly recognisable by its long rabbit-like ears, slender snout and soft grey-blue coat. Built for life in arid and semi-arid landscapes, bilbies are expert diggers: they excavate complex burrow systems in sandy soils, spending the hottest part of the day underground and emerging at night to forage. Those burrows do more than shelter bilbies—they create refuges used by many other small animals and help shape soil processes, which is why bilbies are often described as ecosystem engineers.
Historically, the greater bilby occurred across a vast area of inland Australia. Over time, its range contracted dramatically due to habitat degradation, changed fire patterns, and especially predation by introduced red foxes and feral cats. Today, wild populations persist mainly in parts of northern and western Australia, while many successful recovery efforts rely on predator-managed sites, fenced sanctuaries and carefully planned reintroductions. Because reproduction and survival can swing with rainfall and food availability, long-term conservation typically depends on a combination of predator control, habitat management and ongoing monitoring.
Taxonomy and naming
The greater bilby is a diprotodont marsupial in the family Thylacomyidae and the genus Macrotis. The word “bilby” is a well-established Australian common name. “Greater” distinguishes it from smaller, more localised relatives (such as the lesser bilby, now extinct).
Physical characteristics
Greater bilbies have a slim, elongated body with a pale belly and a grey-blue to grey-brown back. Their oversized ears improve hearing and also help dissipate heat—an important advantage in hot climates. The snout is long and flexible, suited to sniffing out food at night, and the eyes are relatively large for low-light activity.
Powerful forelimbs and sharp claws are adapted for digging burrows and excavating food. The hind limbs support hopping and quick turns. The tail is fairly long and often ends in a black-and-white tuft that can aid balance during movement.
Distribution and habitat
Today the species occurs mainly in parts of northern and western Australia, with additional “safe” populations established through translocations to fenced reserves, islands or predator-controlled areas. Bilbies favour well-drained sandy or sandy-loam soils that allow burrowing, including dunes, spinifex grasslands, open shrublands and savanna mosaics.
For bilbies, the ability to dig secure burrows, access to cover, and a reliable (if variable) food base are often more important than any single vegetation type. Highly fragmented landscapes can increase exposure to predators and reduce the availability of suitable burrow sites.
Behaviour and lifestyle
Bilbies are primarily nocturnal. They rest underground by day, often using burrows with multiple entrances and curved tunnels that improve ventilation and escape options. Individuals can show home-range fidelity, but nightly foraging distance may expand in dry periods when food is scarce.
Rainfall strongly influences food supply and body condition. After rain, invertebrates and new plant growth increase, and breeding activity can rise. Prolonged drought can reduce reproduction and increase mortality.
Diet
The greater bilby is an opportunistic omnivore. It eats a wide range of foods, including beetle larvae and other insects, termites, ants and spiders, as well as seeds, bulbs, tubers, fungi and green shoots. Digging for underground foods creates small pits that improve soil aeration and water infiltration and can assist seedling establishment.
Reproduction and life cycle
Breeding is closely linked to environmental conditions, and in good seasons females may produce more than one litter. Litter size is usually 1–3 (commonly 1–2). Young develop in the pouch before becoming more independent and learning to forage around the burrow system.
Wild lifespan is generally measured in years (often around 5–7 years), and individuals may live longer in well-managed, low-threat sites.
Relationship with humans
The greater bilby is a flagship species for arid-zone conservation in Australia and is widely used to highlight the impacts of introduced predators and habitat change. Bilbies cause little direct harm to people or agriculture, but human land use can affect them indirectly through grazing pressure, vegetation clearing and road mortality.
In many regions, Indigenous ranger programs and Traditional Owner partnerships support monitoring and habitat management, including fire planning that helps maintain cover and food resources.
Conservation status and threats
The greater bilby is generally assessed as Vulnerable (VU) globally. The most significant threats include predation by introduced red foxes and feral cats, habitat degradation and altered vegetation structure (including grazing impacts and competition from introduced herbivores), inappropriate fire regimes that reduce cover, and climate-driven drought and heat extremes that affect food supply.
Conservation success usually comes from integrated management: predator control and predator-free refuges, habitat restoration and fire management, captive breeding and reintroductions where appropriate, and long-term monitoring to track population trends and adapt strategies over time.
