Long-footed potoroo

Scientific name: Potorous longipes

About

Long-footed potoroos are rabbit-sized kangaroos with long noses and almost hairless tails. These small marsupials get their energy through consuming the fruiting bodies of underground fungi, small invertebrates and fruit.

Fungi are super important for long-footed potoroos as they make up about 90% of their diet. As a result, high soil moisture throughout the year is an essential feature of their habitat.

Long-footed potoroos can be distinguished from their relative long-nosed potoroos by their longer tail of more than 30 cm long, hind feet longer than their head and a leathery pad on the sole of their feet.

Where they are found

Long-footed potoroos inhabit montane wet sclerophyll forests above 1,000 m elevation and lowland forests down to 150 m elevation. These habitats have dense understorey vegetation, which they use for shelter during the day.

They are nocturnal and forage for food at night, creating shallow pits in the soil while searching for fungi.

Threats

Breeding occurs year-round, with single young born 2 to 3 times a year, usually in winter, spring and early summer.

Long-footed potoroos are extremely rare with very limited distribution. There are 2 core populations in Victoria and a smaller population in south-eastern NSW.

They are nationally recognised as endangered and inhabit alpine resort areas of lower elevation.

Page last updated: 21/04/26