Long-Nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus
Description:
Closely related to the kangaroo family this marsupial acts like a miniature kangaroo but with a rat like tail and the nose of a bandicoot. Mostly nocturnal except for the winter months.
Where to Find:
- Southeastern Australia including northern Tasmania
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve , ACT Australia
- Nadgee Nature Reserve, NSW Australia
- Flinders and Bruny Island in Tasmania
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable across NSW and Queensland and endangered in Victoria. Overall the IUCN red list has it as least concern but habitat loss, feral animal and foxes, and livestock grazing could cause declining future populations
Interesting Facts:
- Rarely seen in the wild and solitary
- The Gilbert’s Potoroo is the most endangered animal in Australia. Discovered in the mid 1800s it was thought to go extinct but then found to be living 150 years later
- give birth to a single young
- lead mostly solitary lives
- become sexually mature after only 12 months
