Numbats

Numbats are small, colorful animals that live in Australia. They have reddish fur with white stripes across their backs. Unlike most marsupials, numbats are active during the day. They spend their time searching for termites to eat.

Termite Hunters

A numbat eats almost nothing but termites. An adult numbat can eat up to 20,000 termites in one day. They use their long, sticky tongue to catch bugs from inside logs and nests. Their tongue can be almost half as long as their body. Numbats do not need to drink water because they get it from the termites.

A Rare Animal

Numbats used to live across much of Australia. Today, only a small number are left in the wild. They live in forests with lots of hollow logs for hiding. Numbats sleep in these logs at night to stay safe. People are working hard to protect numbats and help them come back.

Fun Facts

• A numbat's tongue can stretch four inches out of its mouth.
• Numbats do not have a pouch like other marsupials.
• The numbat is the official animal symbol of Western Australia.

Did You Know?

Numbats are one of the only marsupials that sleep at night and stay awake during the day, just like people do.