Alice Springs Desert Park

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The fascinating looking Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is an endangered marsupial that is native to parts of Australia. It is under threat from feral predators such as cats and foxes, as well as habitat loss.

It is a diurnal animal (active during the day) whose diet consists almost exclusively of termites, of which they eat up to 20,000 termites a day. Numbats do not need to drink water, as they get enough water from the termites they eat.

Common name
The Numbat are also known as the Banded Anteater. Other names include Noombat or Walpurti.

Images © Ausemade PL


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Infraclass: Marsupialia
  • Order: Dasyuromorphia
  • Family: Myrmecobiidae
  • Genus: Myrmecobius
  • Species: M. fasciatus
  • Binomial name: Myrmecobius fasciatus

NumbatYoung Numbat

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