The Kowari is a small carnivorous marsupial native to the dry graslands and deserts of central Australia. It is 16.5-18 cm long with a 13-14 cm tail. The diet consist of mainly insects and spiders, but probably also small lizards, birds or rodents. It lives in underground burrows, singly or in small groups. It emerges to hunt at among grass tussocks for food. It breeds in winter, from May-October, and gives birth to litters of 5-6 young after a gestation of 32 days.
Other names for the animal are Brush-tailed Marsupial Rat, Byrne's Marsupial Mouse, Byrne's Crested-tailed Marsupial Rat, Crested-tailed Marsupial Rat or Kawiri.
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