The numbat is the Australian marsupial that eats termites almost exclusively.
Numbats are small, diurnal marsupials found in parts of southwestern Australia. Unlike most marsupials, they are active during the day, when termites are easier to locate and their predators are less dominant. A numbat may eat thousands of termites in a single day, using its long, sticky tongue to extract them from shallow soil and loose wood.
Numbats do not possess the powerful claws needed to open hard termite mounds. Instead, they exploit termites close to the surface. They also lack a conventional pouch; the young attach to teats and are protected by surrounding fur.
The species was once widespread across southern Australia but now survives mainly in protected areas of Western Australia. Habitat loss, introduced predators such as red foxes, and altered fire regimes have contributed to its endangered status.