The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), often called the banded anteater, is a small, distinctively striped marsupial native to Australia. It is the sole surviving member of its family, Myrmecobiidae, and possesses a highly specialized diet. The Numbat’s entire existence is built around consuming a single type of prey: termites. This specialization dictates its anatomy, behavior, and ecological placement in the Australian woodlands.
The Exclusive Termite Diet
The Numbat is classified as an obligate myrmecophage, meaning its survival is dependent on eating termites (Isoptera). This strict feeding habit is necessary to meet the high energy demands of its active lifestyle. An adult Numbat must consume between 15,000 and 20,000 termites daily, which can represent up to 10% of the animal’s body weight.
The Numbat feeds on multiple termite species, generally consuming them in proportion to their local abundance. Genera such as Coptotermes and Amitermes are frequently targeted because they are the most common subterranean termites found in the Numbat’s habitat.
Despite the common name “banded anteater,” the Numbat does not intentionally seek out ants. Any ant remains found in scat are incidental, belonging to ant species that were themselves preying on the termites the Numbat consumed. Termites are preferred because, unlike ants, they lack the high concentration of defensive formic acid and tough chitin, making them easier to digest in large volumes. Termites also have a high water content, providing the Numbat with virtually all the moisture it needs to survive without drinking water.
Specialized Tools for Termite Hunting
The Numbat has evolved physical and behavioral adaptations for harvesting termites efficiently. Its most recognizable tool is a long, thin, prehensile tongue, which can extend up to 10 to 11 centimeters from its mouth. This tongue is covered in sticky saliva, produced by enlarged salivary glands, allowing the Numbat to quickly capture dozens of termites at once from narrow tunnels.
The structure of the Numbat’s mouth and jaw is modified for this bulk-feeding strategy. It possesses a jaw that is weaker than other marsupials, and its teeth are reduced to numerous small, blunt pegs, sometimes numbering up to 50. These teeth are non-functional for chewing, as the termites are swallowed whole. Ridges on the soft palate help scrape the sticky mass of termites off the tongue before they are ingested.
To access its prey, the Numbat relies on strong, sharp claws on its forefeet for rapid excavation. The animal is not strong enough to break into the concrete-like mounds of most termite species, so it instead targets the shallower, unfortified subterranean galleries. The Numbat uses its acute sense of smell and possibly its ability to detect subtle vibrations to locate these galleries, which are often only a short distance beneath the soil surface or within fallen logs.
The Numbat’s feeding behavior is unique among Australian marsupials because it is strictly diurnal, or active only during the day. This daytime activity is a direct result of its specialized diet, as the shallow-dwelling termites are only active near the surface when the sun has warmed the earth. The Numbat synchronizes its foraging with this thermal-dependent activity: in summer, it feeds in the cooler morning and late afternoon hours, while in winter, it concentrates its activity during the warmest part of the midday.
Dietary Constraints and Ecological Niche
The Numbat’s specialized diet fundamentally defines its ecological niche and its vulnerability to environmental changes. Its reliance on termites means it can only inhabit woodlands where its preferred prey is abundant, typically eucalypt forests with a supply of fallen, termite-infested logs. These hollow logs serve a dual purpose, providing a consistent source of food and offering shelter from predators.
The availability of termites is heavily influenced by climate and habitat integrity. If an area becomes too wet or too cold, termite activity and population density decrease, making it impossible for the Numbat to find the 20,000 insects required daily. This habitat specificity makes the Numbat susceptible to disturbances like habitat clearing and altered fire regimes, which reduce the number of old, fallen logs.
Due to this specialized existence and the impact of introduced predators like foxes and feral cats, the Numbat is classified as an endangered species. Its survival is intrinsically linked to the health of its ecosystem, where it plays an important role in controlling termite populations. The balance between the Numbat’s energy needs and the availability of its single food source underscores the fragility of this unique marsupial.