Head and body length is 300-350 mm, tail length is 80-200mm. Weights average .1 -1.4 kg. The upperparts are a mixture of blackish-brown and yellow or orange, with yellowish gray, yellowish brown or white underparts. Shortnosed bandicoots have a somewhat broader snout than longnosed and the jaws are slight shorter and stoughter. The pouch is well-developed and opens backwards, concealing eight mammae.

Isoodon obesulus inhabits open-timbered country, thick grasses along the edges of swamps and rivers, and thick scrub on dry ridges. Isoodon obesulus travels by making long tunnels in the grass and upon finding prey, crushes it in its forepaws. It prefers insects and worms.

Females are polyestrous with cycles averaging 20 days. They produce 2-3 litters during their season with as many as 5 young. No more than four young per litter generally survive, so the extra 4 mammae are available for the next litter and rapid reproduction.

It is found in SE New South Wales, S Victoria, SE South Australia, N Queensland, SW Western Australia, Nuyts. Arch. (Greater Australian Bight, S Australian coast), and Tasmania .