long-nosed potoroo
ExploreMammals
long-nosed potoroo
Potorous tridactylus
The long-nosed potoroo is a small, shy marsupial with a long nose and big ears. They love to dig in the ground to find tasty snacks like fungi and insects!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The long-nosed potoroo is a small, rat-like marsupial with dense grey-brown fur. It has a distinctive long, pointed snout and relatively short front legs compared to its strong, hopping hind legs and long tail. This gives it a unique appearance, like a blend of a large rat and a tiny kangaroo.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderDiprotodontiaFamilyPotoroidaeGenusPotorous
Category
MammalsRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Baby potoroos, called joeys, grow big and strong inside their mother's cozy pouch!
Potoroo moms can pause a pregnancy until conditions are just perfect for their joey!
These tiny marsupials are like forest gardeners, helping truffle fungi spread their spores!
They are ancient 'rat-kangaroos', among the oldest marsupials in Australia!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Sniffer Nose
The long-nosed potoroo can sniff out yummy fungi underground because of their unique, sensitive long nose.
Ability
Mighty Burrower
The long-nosed potoroo can dig quickly to find food and shelter thanks to their strong claws and forelimbs.
Ability
Night Navigator
The long-nosed potoroo has large, dark eyes that help them navigate and find food in the dark because they are nocturnal.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 34-40 cm
- Weight
- 0.8-1.3 kg
- Lifespan
- 4-6 years
- Top Speed
- 25 km/h
- Litter Size
- 1-2
- Gestation
- 35-38 days
Diet & Feeding
These small marsupials mainly eat fungi and roots they dig up with their long noses.
Primary Foods
- Truffle-like fungi
- Roots
- Tubers
- Seeds
- Insects
- Grubs
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Truffle fungus
Hymenogaster decorus
Spreads spores of these underground fungi, helping them grow.
eaten by
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
An introduced predator that hunts potoroos, severely threatening populations.
eaten by
Feral cat
Felis catus
Another introduced predator, feral cats prey on potoroos in their habitat.
Traits
Furry
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a wild animal, it's best to watch from a distance and not try to touch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is long-nosed potoroo?
34-40 cm
How much does long-nosed potoroo weigh?
0.8-1.3 kg
How long does long-nosed potoroo live?
4-6 years
How fast can long-nosed potoroo move?
25 km/h
What does long-nosed potoroo eat?
These small marsupials mainly eat fungi and roots they dig up with their long noses.
Where is long-nosed potoroo usually found?
Forests
How does long-nosed potoroo hunt?
Foraging
How many babies does long-nosed potoroo usually have?
1-2
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
