Myrmecobius

Myrmecobius is a small marsupial insectivore native to Australia. It comprises a single extant species, Myrmecobius fasciatus, commonly known as the numbat, and is the sole living member of the family Myrmecobiidae.

It is endemic to Australia. Historically widespread across southern regions, current populations are fragmented and primarily occur in Western Australia in open woodlands and shrublands with abundant termite mounds. It favors dry, sandy soils where termite nests are accessible.

Numbats are small to medium-sized marsupials with a slender body, a long tail, and distinctive pale bands across the back. They measure roughly 25–34 cm in body length, have a tail of similar length, and weigh around 0.5–1.0 kg. They possess powerful forelimbs and long, curved claws for digging, and an elongated tongue specialized for termite feeding.

The numbat is a termite specialist. It uses its keen sense of smell and strong claws to extract termites from mounds, then licks them up with a long sticky tongue.

Numbats are largely diurnal and solitary for most of the year. Reproduction follows marsupial patterns, with small litter sizes and young developing in or near the mother's teat; juveniles are weaned after several months.

The IUCN lists the numbat as Endangered. Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, altered fire regimes, predation by introduced foxes and feral cats, and changes in termite availability. Conservation actions include habitat protection, predator management, and translocations or reintroductions in reserves, as well as captive breeding programs in some zoos.