The Tasmanian bettong is a nocturnal omnivore that specialises in feeding on underground fungi (3), which it detects using its keen sense of smell and excavates using its strong front claws (2) (3). Around 50 to 90 percent of the Tasmanian bettong’s diet is made up of fungi (5), but it will also take some plant material, such as leaves, seeds, fruits and roots, as well as invertebrates (3). Like related species, the Tasmanian bettong is likely to get most of its water requirements from its food (2) (3).
Although a predominantly solitary creature, the Tasmanian bettong will occasionally forage in a small, loose group when food is abundant (2). This species hops like a kangaroo when moving fast, but moves along on all fours when travelling slowly, such as when foraging (2) (3).
The Tasmanian bettong uses dried grass and shredded bark to build a solitary, domed nest in a sheltered site (3) (5), such as a shallow depression in the ground or under a fallen log or clump of vegetation (3). The nest is not permanent, however, lasting only one or two nights before the bettong moves on in search of food (2). Intriguingly, the Tasmanian bettong uses its prehensile tail to carry nest material, tossing the material on top before curling the tail around it and carrying the load to its nest site (3).
After reaching sexual maturity at 7 to 11 months (3) (5), the female Tasmanian bettong produces a single young at a time, after a short gestation period of 20 to 22 days (3) (7). After birth, the young bettong, known as a joey, is carried in the female’s pouch for around 15 weeks (3) (5) (7), although during the last 2 weeks it will spend increasing amounts of time outside of the pouch (3). After leaving the pouch for the last time, the young Tasmanian bettong continues to suckle for around six to nine weeks before it is weaned (7).
The female Tasmanian bettong is able to mate again immediately after giving birth. However, while the pouch is occupied, the new embryo enters a period of suspended animation known as embryonic diapause (2). Its development only continues at a later stage, allowing its birth to coincide with the previous young vacating the pouch for the final time (2) (3) (7).
The Tasmanian bettong can breed year-round, and the fast turnover of young means that a female can produce around three joeys each year (3) (5) (7). The maximum lifespan of this species is around six years, and the female may produce up to eight young in this time (3).