Myrmecobius fasciatus
Date 1863
Source John Gould, F.R.S., Mammals of Australia, Vol. I Plate 4, London, 1863.
Author John Gould (1804–1881)
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myrmecobius_fasciatus_Gould.jpg


The numbat, noombat or walpurti (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a small marsupial that is native to southern Australia. The numbat is diurnal and feeds almost exclusively on termites. It has a long, narrow face with a pointed nose and an exceptionally long tongue that can extend to at least 5cm beyond the tip of its nose. The species was once widespread across southern Australia, but is now restricted to several small colonies in Western Australia.

Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Myrmecobiidae
Genus: Myrmecobius
Species: Myrmecobius fasciatus Waterhouse, 1836