BANDICOOT, any animal of the marsupial genus Peram eles. The species, about 12 in number, are widely distributed over Australia, and the adjacent islands. They are of small size and live on the ground, making nests in hollow places and form ing burrows in which they pass a great part of the day. Though feeding largely on worms and insects they ravage gardens and fields, on which account they are detested by the colonists.