Bandicoot
Bandicoot, a small mammal related to the kangaroo. Like the kangaroo, it is a marsupial, an animal whose young are suckled and carried in a pouch on the female's abdomen.
There are 17 species of bandicoots, ranging in length from 6 to 21 inches (15 to 53 cm). They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Most bandicoots have long, pointed snouts, sharp claws, and rounded ears. They are brown with light underparts. Most species sleep in grassy nests during the day and are active at night. They eat mainly insects and worms, which they dig up with the snout and forefeet. The female bears up to three litters of two to five young a year.