Long-nosed Potoroo
(Potorous tridactylous)

These tiny rat kangaroos live in the forests in coastal areas of South-eastern Australia and Tasmania.  Most individuals from the Tasmanian populations have a white tip at the end of their tail.  The potoroo may also be identified by its darker fur color and long, pointed nose.  They prefer to hide in dense brush for protection from predators.  Potoroo are omnivorous and their diet is similar to bettongs, including the fungi and insects.  They then spread the fungi spores in thier droppings, helping to spread nutrients from the fungus into the soil for other plants.  "Potorous" is the Aboriginal word for potoroo.  They are not completely nocturnal, occasionally coming out to sun themselves in the early morning or late afternoon.  Their tails are slightly prehensile and they use them to gather nesting material.  Gestation period is 38 days, one of the longest of any macropod (Matchie's tree kangaroos have a slightly longer gestation.)  Most births occur from the end of winter to early spring.  Pouch life is four months.  Young potoroos are weaned at 5-6 months and are sexually mature at about 8-10 months for females and a year for males.  Up to two young per year may be produced.  Predators in the wild include dingoes, masked owls, Eastern quolls, feral cats, dogs, foxes, and man (potoroo have been killed by humans for sport.)  The potoroo's wild populations range from being listed as vulnerable to endangered in parts of South-eastern Australia.  As they prefer living in established forests of thick brush, loss of habitat for development and farming is a contributing factor.  Our center has the only breeding potoroos in North America.