Summary
The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii gunnii) is a subspecies of P. gunnii which is found only in Tasmania. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot originally occurred in native grasslands and grassy woodlands in Tasmania’s Midlands. However it is now rare in the Midlands where most of its habitat has been cleared. Since European settlement the Eastern Barred Bandicoot has spread into (originally heavily forested) agricultural areas in the state’s south-east, north-east and north-west. In these areas, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot occurs in mosaic habitats of pasture and remnant native forest, often with a significant amount of cover provided by weeds such as gorse and blackberry. The main threats to the Eastern Barred Bandicoot include blanket removal of native and weed cover in agricultural areas, and severe population declines during extended dry periods.
Key Points
- Important: Is this species in your area? Do you need a permit? Ensure you’ve covered all the issues by checking the Planning Ahead page.
- Important: Different threatened species may have different requirements. For any activity you are considering, read the Activity Advice pages for background information and important advice about managing around the needs of multiple threatened species.
ActivityGeneral
Habitat
- ‘Habitat’ refers to both known habitat for the species (i.e. in or near habitat where the species has been recorded) and potential habitat (i.e. areas of habitat with appropriate characteristics for the species and within the species potential range which have not yet been surveyed).
- If in doubt about whether a site represents potential habitat for this species, contact the Threatened Species Section for further advice.
- The current known range of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot includes agricultural areas of the state’s south-east, north-east and north-west, with outlying populations also potentially present on the southern and northern edges of the Tasmanian Midlands. Within these broad areas, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot can be patchily distributed depending on availability of ground cover. The range of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot can also contract significantly during extended periods of drought.
- Native grassland habitat for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot corresponds to 'lowland grassland' in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit. See Grassy Bush for more information on managing this vegetation type.
- Habitat for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot includes the following elements: within agricultural districts, mosaic habitats of pasture and remnant native forest, often with a significant amount of cover provided by dense-growing weeds such as gorse, blackberry, blackthorn, rose briar, etc; small remnant populations may occur in remnant native grassland and grassy woodland; all records occur below 950 altitude.
What to avoid
- Blanket clearing of all ground cover (including weeds) in areas of habitat
- Clearing/conversion of remnant native grassland and grassy woodland habitat
Surveying
ActivitySurveying
| Key |
Survey reliability more info |
| M |
Peak survey period |
| M |
Potential survey period |
| M |
Non-survey period |
To ensure you follow the law - check whether your survey requires a permit. Always report any new records to the Natural Values Atlas, or send the information direct to the Threatened Species Section. Refer to the Activity Advice: Surveying page for background information.
Perameles gunni
|
Spring |
Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
| Eastern barred bandicoot |
S |
S |
O |
O |
N |
N |
D |
D |
J |
J |
F |
F |
M |
M |
A |
A |
M |
M |
J |
J |
J |
J |
A |
A |
- The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is readily identifiable from its distinctive barred hindquarters (absent in the Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus). It can be commonly seen in car headlights and on the suburban fringe feeding in pasture and other open grassy areas. The species is also often seen as roadkills in some districts where numbers are high.
- The Eastern Barred Bandicoot makes distinctive conical holes in the turf where it has inserted its long nose to extract insects and worms from the soil, and these holes can are an indication that the species may be present. However, similar holes can also be made by the Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus.
Helping the species
ActivityConservation
- In order to recognise the species if it occurs on your property, learn to identify the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. If in doubt, seek expert assistance with identification.
- If you live or work in the area where the species occurs (see distribution map, above), look out for and record any observations of the species. All records of this species can provide important information on distribution and abundance
- If you are interested in knowing for certain whether the species occurs on your land, organise a formal survey. You may need to employ an ecological consultant to do this. Your local Bushcare or Field Naturalist club may be able to assist you with a survey.
- Important! Always report any observations of the species to the NRE Natural Values Atlas, or else provide the data direct to the Threatened Species Section. Records stored on the NVA are a permanent record and are accessible to other people interested in this species.
- Consider the needs of the whole habitat. Preserving a threatened species' habitat is the best way to manage both the species and the environment in which it lives.
- To avoid additional pressures on the Eastern Barred Bandicoot - help Tasmania eradicate European Foxes (Vulpes vulpes). See Foxes in Tasmania for more information.
- For long-term protection of localities on private land – consider protection of remnant native grassland habitat through a vegetation management agreement or conservation covenant.
Cutting or clearing trees or vegetation
ActivityCutting
- The survival of the Eastern barred Bandicoot in modified pasture habitat is dependent on available ground cover dispersed among areas of open pasture. Ground cover can be provided by remnant native vegetation, weeds (particularly gorse and blackberry), and long rank grass (for example, along fencelines).
- To maintain habitat quality in agricultural areas where this species occurs - avoid blanket clearing of ground cover (native vegetation and weeds), and maintain areas of ground cover dispersed among areas of open pasture.
- To maintain habitat when removing weeds - in agricultural areas where weeds provide the only source of cover, remove weeds in stages and replace with alternative native ground-cover species.
Agriculture
ActivityAgriculture
- Since European settlement, the Eastern barred Bandicoot has spread into previously forested areas when these areas were opened up for agriculture. Its survival in this new pasture habitat is dependent on available ground cover dispersed among areas of open pasture. Ground cover can be provided by remnant native vegetation, weeds (particularly gorse and blackberry), and long rank grass (for example, along fencelines).
- To maintain habitat quality in agricultural areas where this species occurs - avoid blanket clearing of ground cover (native vegetation and weeds), and maintain areas of ground cover dispersed among areas of open pasture.
- To maintain habitat when removing weeds - in areas where weeds provide the only source of cover, remove weeds in stages and replace with alternative native ground-cover species.
Changing water flow / quality
Check also for listing statement or notesheet pdf above (below the species image).
FurtherInformation
