Since bilbies have soft, silky, blue-grey fur that does not protect their bodies well from termite bites, they dig tunnels leading to termite chambers and lap them up.
The bilby’s fur is soft, silky, and blue-grey in color with a mix of tan or fawn over the majority of the body. The belly is covered in white or cream fur.
The first part of the bilby’s tail is the same blue-grey as the body with the remainder of it being black and the final 40% being pure white with a distinct crest.
Since bilbies have soft fur that does not protect their bodies well from termite bites, they dig tunnels leading to termite chambers and lap them up with their long, slender tongues. Unfortunately, this method of feeding leads to a large consumption of soil and sand as well.
• Image | © John, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-SA 2.0)
• Sources | (Brown, 2011; Environment Australia, 2004; Humble, 2006; Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, 1998; Pavey, 2006; The Wikimedia Foundation)
