Who is Karora the Creator from In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World and what is their importance?

Karora the Creator, appears in the creation story, "Bandicoots Come from His Body". In the story, Karora creates life from his own body. After a time of being in a deep sleep under the earth, the first animals began to appear. Rat-like creatures, grew from his navel and armpits, leapt out from under the ground and burst into life.