Diet and Behaviour
The eastern bettong is a nocturnal animal. During the day it sleeps in a nest it constructs out of grasses and leaves. A major component of its diet is underground fungi related to truffles, but it is also happy to dig up roots and tubers as well. Insects and grubs are also eaten when encountered. It is unique in that it will travel up to 1.5 km from its nest to a feeding area, a considerable distance for a creature that rarely exceeds 2 kg in mass.
This bettong's habitat is open woodlands at altitudes between sea-level and 1000 m. (The highest point on Tasmania is at 1617 m.) The bettong usually nests in dry open eucalypt forests and grassy woodlands, sleeping during the day in a domed, grass nest that is well camouflaged and built by collecting nesting material bundled and transported to it in its curved prehensile tail.
Like other bettongs, the eastern bettong is a continuous breeder with a gestation period of only three weeks. Bettongs produce young all year.
Read more about this topic: Eastern Bettong
Famous quotes containing the words diet and/or behaviour:
“Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty—the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility—I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling.”
—Frances Burney (1752–1840)