The Burgundy Bandicoot
Burgundy Bandicoot (Unevolved/Primitive form)
Burgundy Bandicoot (Half Evolved form)
Burgundy Bandicoot (Evolved/Anthro form)
Lives- This Bandicoot lives in Southern areas of Australia and a few in Tasmania. They inhabit the high ground areas, especially in cooler areas like in the mountains. But they often live in thick forests too. They also try to live far away from Human civilizations and other threatening species.
Characteristics- The fur colour is burgundy in colour, which takes up most of the body. While creamy-beige colored fur surrounds the muzzle and under areas. They usually have light-green eyes, but they can have other shades of green, blue and turquoise. The fur is very silky on most of the body, but is more rough and thicker on the back. With the long ridge of fur going from the head down to it's short tail. They can also have different facial markings, and other beige marks around their body like their limbs. The Unevolved and Half Evolved form have 5 digits (toes) on their frontpaws, but only 3 of them are enlarged with long sharp claws, while the other 2 digits are small and not of much use to the animal. Their back paws are very kangaroo like, with only 3 digits each having a large claw on (the 3rd and 4th are fused together). The Evolved/Anthro forum has 4 digits on the front pawhands, all are clawed (the 5th has disappeared). And 3 on their back paws, like their previous forms but are able to stand upright and walk. But can still run on all fours if they want to (though if they're too muscular and bulky, then they can't).
Eye colour variation
Diet- Like most bandicoots, they're omnivorous. Though most of its diet is made up of meat. It usually hunts for small to medium sized mammals and reptiles, such as rodents, rabbits, lizards, snakes and other animals alike. But the Half Evolved and anthro form will often go after larger animals like wild pigs, of any size. Depending on their needs. They don't usually hunt large animals though, like horses, cows, camel, etc. They also don't usually go after larger, fast moving animals like Kangaroo and deer neither.
Besides meat, it occasionally eats types of plants too. Like Tubers (potatoes) some fruits (that aren't too sweet) and various types of melon (mainly for the water, since fresh water is sometimes difficult to find).
Description-
The Burgundy Bandicoot is a large and very unique member of the Peremalids. It's also more closely related to the Bilbies (Lesser and Greater) and the Brown bandicoot than any of the other bandicoot species. But yet again, it's not really related to neither. It's actually another separate Peremalid.
A thing that makes them very different from bilbies is that they have a very short tail, while Bilbies have a very long and graceful looking tail. The reason for the short tail is to make this bandicoot more skilled at fighting, since many bandicoot species usually end up getting their tail torn off in fights. Another feature that makes this species unique is their ears. They're very long like Bilby ears but they to 'flop' at the very tips. It's not really known to why their ears are like that, but it could be to protect them from the cold, since they live in the colder areas of Australia.
The male build of the species is rather strong and bulky. They're true natural fighters, with strong limbs, claws and teeth. And they also have a thick and short neck, to protect them from neck bites. They have a set of 48 teeth, like all bandicoot species. But their fangs are slighter larger like a Bilby. Their claws are long too, used for digging and fighting. Their jaws are a bit more bulky but their bite isn't as powerful as a Tasmanian Devil or Thylacine. But it's still stronger than most mammals of similar size. The females are very slender and more quicker than the males. Their fangs are small, since they don't need to fight as much.
Their sense of smell is extremely well developed, like all bandicoots. Their hearing is also very accurate too. But their sense of sight is poor, much like the Bilby. Though it does appear to have 'night vision', since they can see objects in the dark almost as well as they can during the daytime. Their whiskered muzzle also helps with the dark, since they're nocturnal. But they do like to search about during daytime when they feel like it, and they enjoy to bask in the sun too. During the night, their bright burgundy fur appears to be very deep burgundy to black, so it makes it easier for them to hide.
The Unevolved form usually lives in burrows it digs itself, or hollow tree logs, rock crevices and other similar hiding places. The Half Evolved form also does, usually in large dens though, dug by themselves. Usually with the entrance well hidden, among long grass, bushes and alike. They sometimes live in caves too, if they find them. The Anthro form also does, but since they're more intelligent and able to learn human ways, they sometimes will build them a house, sometimes underground, as they appear to like having their home hidden from the untrained eye.
Burgundy Bandicoot (Half evolved, male) compared with a male Grey Wolf.
Behavior-
Their behavior is similar to most of the other bandicoot species. They're rough, tough and like to have their own space. The females are different though, they don't mind some company but they still like to be solitary most of the time, besides with family of course.
The Unevolved form isn't as well 'developed' as the other two, as they're even more aggressive and less intelligent, so they don't develop strong bonds with pairs, and even their own young (once grown up). They live for themselves, and their selves only. They even will fight each other viciously and even sometimes kill one another to gain territories, or a female partner. They're also only tense among their own kind, but when encountering other species, they just avoid or flee from them. Sometimes they'd interact with other bandicoot species though.
The Half Evolved and Evolved/Anthro form is different. Since their needs are more complicated and more expanded than the smaller form, they're more intelligent and live differently. They're usually calm when alone, and very quiet. When they encounter others, they can either just move away from one another, walk up to the other and examine each other, or react aggressively (especially if one invades another's territory or goes near their mate). Male and Females rarely act aggressive towards one another, but females can be aggressive with each other if they don't like each other and males... can be much worse. Males bandicoots never usually get along, unless they're a father and son. They do fight often, but they won't usually kill one another, unless the loser doesn't give in or they really hate each other for some strong reason.
Other tense and aggressive encounters can be when one has caught a large kill and isn't able to eat it quickly. Though bandicoots never steal prey from one another (because they like freshly killed prey, they never eat carrion unless starving). They will sometimes have trouble with other species such as Tasmanian Devils and Quolls stealing their food, as they're scavengers and like to get an easy feed... they can sometimes fight off these intruders, but when they're too overwhelmed and outnumbered, they have to sometimes give in, or be killed.
They're capable of being affectionate and gentle, but only with their mate (especially if they really love one another) and their offspring. Sometimes they can be with their siblings too, if they're really close to one another. They often stay with their mate for life though, unless they just don't happen to get along after some time, but it's unusual for them to end up with the wrong mate.
This bandicoot is almost silent. Not making much sounds at all. They sometimes hiss when threatened (like some other bandicoots) but will also growl viciously and grunt too, when threatening, fighting or eating. The pups also make squeaking sounds when young, as heard in other bandicoots. The Anthro form is capable of speaking well if taught, it's usually passed on from their family members (if they know it) or people.
Biology-
Burgundy Bandicoot Eyesight (compared with humans)
For the Unevolved form, it's similar to the other bandicoot and bilby species. They can breed at almost any time of the year, as long as the season is suitable. And can have many offspring during their lifetime, usually 2 at a time... around 4 to 6 a year. And they are born in only 2 weeks, very early and undeveloped (like all marsupials). The females have a backwards pouch which the young (baby bandicoots, known as pups or joeys) stay in for at least 1 to 2 months, until they're able to come out and start to fend for themselves, which they can after 5 months of age and then they leave to live their own life, reaching adulthood in as little as a year. The father has no role in caring for the young, but does stay nearby to protect it's territory and mate from rival males. They also will chase away all the young when they're old enough to fend for themselves, will even kill them if they don't obey.
The Half Evolved form is different. They only breed around the Winter time, so the young will be born around early Spring, in time for when food is plentiful and the climate is warmer. Both the Male and Female care for the young, as the female needs to depend more on her mate than ever before (due to the high number of dangerous predators at the time). Their usual litter number is only 1 at first, but the most common number is 2, and more rarely, 3. They only breed once every 2 to 3 years. The young are born undeveloped, with no hearing, sight and fur... but have a strong sense of smell. Born in around 4 to 5 weeks. They stay in the pouch for around 3 months, until they have fur and are able to hop out of the pouch and let the mother go off on hunting trips, they stay at the den until she returns, while the father stays behind for guard. The father usually does the hunting though, and brings it back for the family. When the young are 4 months, they start to eat meat and fruits, and will even sometimes get live prey brought back for them, to teach them how to kill. When the young are around 6 months old, they're ready to learn to live and fend for themselves. The parents teach their young how to find fruit, vegetables and prey, hunting prey, dig their homes, and find good places to start their own lives. And they leave the parents after 8 months. They will also sometimes visit one another, to see how they're doing, but don't usually socialize for long, as male bandicoots don't like having too much bandicoots around.
The anthro from is similar to the Half Evolved, but with big changes. They instead, breed around Autumn. Takes about 4 to 5 months for the pup/joey to be born. Unlike the other forms, the females don't have a pouch (because they're able to stand upright, meaning a backwards pouch wouldn't be of good use) and the young are born with very short fur. Still very undeveloped, as they can't see or hear yet, but can touch and smell, and are still very small in comparison to the parents. Both parents, care for the young and both share an equally close bond with their young and will do anything to protect them. They usually have 2, but first time mothers usually have 1, and on rare occasions, some will have 3 or 4. Some will even breed again if they only end up with 1 offspring at first... they will rarely do so if they already have 2 or more though. The pups can hear after 2 weeks and open their eyes after about 3 to 4 weeks. Their eye colour will always be dark green or dark blue at first, and may change as they grow older. As soon as their teeth appear, they're able to eat food... at around 4 months old. They start to leave their home and go on adventures with their parents when they're around 7 months old, depending on how safe their homeland is. They'll have years of joy and fun with their family until they get into the more serious side of their lives. They won't ever start to learn hunting and surviving in the wild until around the age of 6 years, and don't leave their parents until at least 9 years old for males, and 10 for females (as some daughters sometimes stay behind to learn how to raise their own offspring one day, since usually once the parents haven't got any young left to raise, they'll have another litter soon after). Because of the long years of raising their offspring, they can often only have as few as 2 or 3 litters in their whole lifetime, around 3 to 8 young (Much less than the other forms). Also, once they're adults, they will also visit their parents occasionally, and it doesn't often end up in fights or arguments. Due to their close bonds, but they do like to have their own space, which is why they will get their own land/territory, away (but not usually too far) from home.
Hybridizing-
It's possible for them, but for the Unevolved and Half Evolved form, it's more limited. They can only crossbreed with other bandicoot and bilby species, no other. It can sometimes happen in the wild, but not very often. While the Anthro form is able to go with a few other species besides bandicoots and bilbies. It can go with most Dasyurids (kowari, mulgara, marsupial mice, quolls, thylacines, etc) and also known to be able to crossbreed with some Potoroo and Opossum species also, but even these are rare and don't usually happen, unless they're living very closely together and start to bond, or are forced together by humans for breeding strange hybrid anthro creatures. They cannot breed with distant marsupial species, like kangaroos, koalas, wombats, etc and any non-marsupial species.
Human Interaction-
They're currently not known by science (the Unevolved ones), and very few humans have ever seen them at all... so there isn't much to say here. Cortex and Brio are possibly to first humans to even get their hands on the species. Maybe it's best that they're not known by science? Their fur would most likely make them valuable to those rich snobs that like to wear the pain and suffering of a once living creature...
*
However, the Half Evolved form was discovered many years later, but still not usually seen as they're really secretive. There had been a few reports of them attacking humans though, but that is usually due to the species trying to protect itself or from being provoked. A few were found dead though, from fights with other bandicoots or attacks from enemy species.*
As for the Anthro form, they still rarely encounter humans. They actually try to stay away from them as far as possible. They also don't seem to attack humans at all, unless they have to. But some have been raised by people (usually from being rescued as a pup), and can become great companions if treated with respect and raised well. They can also speak human languages if taught, like most anthros.
Humans are part of the reason why Burgundy Bandicoots can speak, all the ones that cant are completely wild. Ones that were raised by humans, were usually let back into the wild and they eventually passed on the human languages to other Burgundy Bandicoots, since the wild ones don't speak a language at all.
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