The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) first became known to Europeans in 1831. “Saw a beautiful animal but, as it escaped into the hollow of a tree, could not ascertain whether it was a species of squirrel, weasel or wild cat ...” George Fletcher Moore, early settler in Western Australia, on first seeing a numbat. Eating almost exclusively termites (adult numbats need up to 20,000 termites each day), the mammal emblem of Western Australia was once common across southern parts of Australia. Fewer than 1000 numbats are now left and these are restricted to isolated to areas in the South West of WA.
Source: The West Australian, 5 Feb 17
https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/kids/species-teetering-on-the-brink-of…
- Login om te reageren