The Large Short-Nosed Bandicoot, also known as the Southern Brown Bandicoot, is a marsupial that makes its home on the coasts of Australia and other islands. They are actually rather small, with the largest males being about the size of a miniature dog. Their misleading name stems from comparison with their smaller relatives.

An omnivorous animal, the Large Short-Nosed Bandicoot feeds on berries, grass seeds and other plant life, as well as on insects and earthworms. If food is very difficult to find, female bandicoots may eat their young. The Large Short-Nosed Bandicoot is a nocturnal forager, using their keen sense of smell to find food that is either in the open or hidden underground. The Bandicoot's nocturnal habits are not without consequence, however. They are prey to many other, larger nocturnal animals such as large cats, foxes and owls. Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots breed throughout the year and, like other marsupials, give birth to very immature young who mature inside the mother's pouch. A female bandicoot gives birth to a litter of two to four babies after only 12.5 days, the shortest gestation period of any mammal. However, most of the juvenile's development takes place within the mother's pouch, where they remain for around sixty days. Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots are territorial, marking their territory with a gland found on the mouth, pouch, cloaca and ears. They are not aggressive towards other animals, but if a bandicoot enters another's territory, they are likely to fight. The fights always result in either one of the males being killed or one becoming subordinate. The subordinate male gives over all rights of territory or females to the dominant male. Bandicoots are solitary animals and, except for a mother and her unweaned young, do not live in groups. The Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots live in areas of thick vegetation during the dry season. During this time, food is scarce and they most likely feed on their homes. During the wet season, however, Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots dwell in the open grasslands. They make piles of hay and twigs for nests. These are not only camouflaged, but also waterproof and have a hollow opening just large enough for one individual.

Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots are about 40 cm long, with an additional 15 cm added by the tail. They average around 1200 grams. Bandicoots have a coarse, dense coat, which are usually light brown with black patterns and a white underside. Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots have rounded ears and, as the name would suggest, a short nose. They closely resemble the small Short-Nosed Bandicoots, from which they differ only in size and location.

Quite common and abundant in their native Australia, Large Short-Nosed Bandicoots have no special conservation status. However, their numbers have decreased since the introduction of livestock and rabbits. They are often a meal for the aboriginal people. They are easy to breed.

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