description Long-footed potoroo Overview
The long-footed potoroo is a small marsupial belonging to the family Potoroidae, native to the forests of southeastern Australia. First scientifically recorded near Bonang, Victoria, in 1967, the species is primarily found in Victoria and southern New South Wales. It is characterized by its elongated hind feet and a diet that consists mostly of underground fungi. The long-footed potoroo is currently classified as a vulnerable species due to ongoing habitat loss and predation by introduced predators like foxes and feral cats.
help Long-footed potoroo FAQ
Where was the long-footed potoroo first discovered?
The long-footed potoroo was first recorded in 1967 near Bonang in Victoria, Australia, making it one of the more recently identified Australian mammal species. Additional populations were later found in New South Wales and in subalpine forest areas.
What does the long-footed potoroo eat?
The long-footed potoroo feeds heavily on underground fungal fruiting bodies, commonly called truffles, which it digs up using its elongated forefeet. This diet makes it ecologically important because it disperses fungal spores that help sustain forest ecosystems.
How is the long-footed potoroo different from the long-nosed potoroo?
The long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) is larger and has distinctly longer hind feet than the more widespread long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus). The long-footed species also tends to inhabit denser, wetter forest environments and has a much smaller, more fragmented range.
Why is the long-footed potoroo classified as vulnerable?
The species is listed as Vulnerable under Australian environmental law due to threats including logging-driven habitat loss, predation by introduced red foxes and feral cats, and the risks associated with its naturally small, fragmented populations in southeastern Australia.
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