Numbat

The numbat, also known as the noombat or walpurti, is an insectivorous marsupial. It is diurnal and its diet consists almost exclusively of termites. The species was once widespread across southern Australia, but is now restricted to several small colonies in Western Australia. Numbats are diurnal, and have an extremely specialised diet comprised almost exclusively of termites. As the sun rises and the day heats up, the temperature of the upper layers of soil increases, and termites move in to a network of shallow tunnels and chambers just below the ground surface. The Numbat, also called the banded anteater, is a small endangered marsupial animal native to parts of Australia. They have a long sticky tongue that allows them pick up termites, which they eat exclusively. The Numbat is under threat from habitat loss and introduced predators like foxes and feral cats.

Scientific name: Myrmecobius fasciatus

Higher classification: Myrmecobius

Symbol of: Western Australia

Rank: Species

Family: Myrmecobiidae; Waterhouse, 1841

Infraclass: Marsupialia

Kingdom: Animalia