bettong

Bettongs are a genus of Australian marsupials, scientifically known as Bettongia. They are a type of rat kangaroo, related to the larger kangaroo family. Bettongs are small, typically rabbit-sized or smaller, and possess prehensile tails used for gathering nesting materials. They are omnivores, feeding on grasses, tubers, fungi, grubs, and worms.

Four species of bettongs exist: the Tasmanian, brush-tailed, burrowing, and Northern bettong. Some species, like the Tasmanian and burrowing bettong, are listed as near threatened, while the brush-tailed and Northern bettong are endangered. These animals are vulnerable to predation, particularly from introduced foxes, which has led to reduced ranges and extinction for some species.12