Southern Brown Bandicoot

Southern Brown Bandicoot

Isoodon obesulus

Silhouette: Kawinwit Kittipalawattanapol · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
at Maria Island National Park

In 3 days >90%

135 Verified sightings at Maria Island National Park From 2019 to 2026
152 In all 2 parks
November Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Southern Brown Bandicoot

The southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) is a short-nosed bandicoot, a type of marsupial, found mostly in southern Australia. A subspecies in Western Australia is also known as the quenda in South Western Australia (from the Noongar word kwinda). This subspecies was elevated to species in 2018.

The species was first described as Didelphis obesula by George Shaw in 1797. There are three subspecies recognised by the Atlas of Living Australia: Isoodon obesulus affinus – Tasmania and Bass Strait Islands Isoodon obesulus nauticus – Restricted to the Nuyts Archipelago

Isoodon obesulus obesulus – NSW, Victoria, SA The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) and the Cape York brown bandicoot (Isoodon peninsulae) were previously considered subspecies of the southern brown bandicoot before being elevated to full species status.

Southern brown bandicoots have a stocky body with a short snout and short, rounded ears. They show sexual dimorphism, with females being smaller than males. On average, males measure 50 cm (20 in) in total length, and weigh up to 1.2 kg (2.6 lb), while females measure 40 cm (16 in) and weigh no more than 1 kg (2.2 lb). They have coarse, bristly... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:08

Australia · 2024

© chicken-salt · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~80%
2 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Hobart 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 East Coast Natureworld 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Southern Brown Bandicoot in Maria Island National Park?

Very likely

About 80% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Brown Bandicoot sighting in Maria Island National Park on a given day, based on 135 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 11 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Southern Brown Bandicoot in Maria Island National Park?

April, June and November–December

In those months about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Brown Bandicoot in Maria Island National Park on a given day, against about 50% in October, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Southern Brown Bandicoot?

Between noon and 3 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Southern Brown Bandicoot sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Maria Island National Park the best place to see a Southern Brown Bandicoot?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Southern Brown Bandicoot sightings, Maria Island National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Great Otway National Park (Australia, about 10%).

Where does the Southern Brown Bandicoot sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Southern Brown Bandicoot is recorded against all the mammals logged in Maria Island National Park (135 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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