# 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! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![long-nosed potoroo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/D85_2097_export.jpg&width=800) Photo: Petr Hamerník, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D85_2097_export.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Diprotodontia - **Family:** Potoroidae - **Genus:** Potorous ## 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 - **Super Sniffer Nose:** The long-nosed potoroo can sniff out yummy fungi underground because of their unique, sensitive long nose. - **Mighty Burrower:** The long-nosed potoroo can dig quickly to find food and shelter thanks to their strong claws and forelimbs. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## 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 to identify long-nosed potoroo? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Long-nosed Potoroo: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-nosed-potoroo)