Long Footed Potoroo

Apperance
Potoroos are small kangaroos, often called 'rat-kangaroos'. The Long-footed Potoroo is about the size of a rabbit, covered in dense, soft grey-brown fur which is paler on the stomach and feet. This species is distinguished from other potoroos by its long back feet with long toes, and strong front feet and claws.
Long footed Potoroo

Length
The species has a average head and body length of 400 millimetres and tail lenght of 320 millimetres.
Weight
Adults weigh 1.5 - 2.5 kilograms

Habitat
The favoured habitat by the long-footed potoroo is wet forest gullies, particularly rainforest. Dense undergrowth provides shelter and protection from predators. The potoroo is nocturnal, spending the hours of daylight in thick vegetation.

Eating and Diet Habits
At night they move out to forage up and down the forest slopes, searching for their main food source, underground fungi, which grow in association with tree roots. Occasionally they feed on insects, seeds and other plant material. Characteristic signs of potoroo feeding are small cone-shaped holes, dug in search of fungi.

Predators
      Masked owls, eastern quolls, feral cats and dogs regularly prey on potoroos.

Breeding Habits
       The Long-footed Potoroo breeds continuously throughout the year. Males are involved in courtship and mating, females care for the young. Adult females have one young at a time but, like most kangaroos, they can have one in the pouch and one at foot. After six months, young potoroos reach independence.
                                             long footed potoroo

Numbers
This animal is so rare and so shy that it was unknown to biologists before 1980.

Location
In the forests of East Gippsland, north-eastern Victoria south of Mount Buffalo, and south-eastern New South Wales.

Problems

Predation by introduced Dogs and Red Foxes may be restricting populations to areas of dense understorey.
Management activities such as road-building, fuel-reduction burning and harvesting in State Forest may affect potoroo food supply, change forest structure and improve access for predators.

Solutions

Careful management of populations where they occur in Natonal Parks.
Establishment of Special Management Areas (400-500 ha) within areas of State Forest. No fuel-reduction burning to occur in these zones.
Predator control (Red Fox and Wild Dog) in selected Special Management Areas.
Long-term monitoring of populations.
Continuing research on the distribution and ecology of the species.
Public education about the Long-footed Potoroo, its importance, threats and management.
encourage habitat retention and restoration.
ongoing habitat management.
captive breeding of Long-footed Potoroo and establishing new colonies.
support your local environment groups.
raise money for the rehabilitation of sites for Long-footed Potoroo .
learn more about endangered animals, particularly those native to your area.
be a responsible pet owner so they do not impact on Long-footed Potoroo or other wildlife.
help in the eradication of foxes, cats and rabbits.
protect remnant native vegetation under Heritage Agreement and by excluding stock .
revegetate cleared land with indigenous plants.