Subspecies
Two formerly recognised species, Bettongia cuniculus (Tasmanian bettong) and Bettongia gaimardi (eastern bettong), were placed into a single species with two subspecies by Wakefield in 1967. The two recognised subspecies are:
- Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi, mainland subspecies (extinct)
- Bettongia gaimardi cuniculus, Tasmanian subspecies
Following the introduction of the red fox and European rabbit to Australia, the mainland subspecies became extinct around the 1920s. The Tasmanian subspecies is still extant.
Read more about this topic: Eastern Bettong