Mammals
Long-Nosed Potoroo
Potorous tridactylus · also called long-nosed potoroos
Digging a small pit in the forest floor at night, a long-nosed potoroo unearths a patch of underground fungus, a modest-looking relative of the kangaroo whose droppings quietly spread the very fungal spores that keep its forest healthy.
Overview
The long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus, is a small, rat-like member of the kangaroo family, native to forest and grassland habitat across parts of southeastern Australia. Its heavy reliance on underground fungi, vital role dispersing fungal spores through its droppings, and ongoing decline from introduced predators make it one of the more ecologically important and conservation-sensitive small marsupials found anywhere in Australia.
An unseen forest gardener
Rarely noticed and easily overlooked, the long-nosed potoroo quietly performs one of the more important ecological jobs in its forest, spreading the fungal spores that many native trees depend on simply by going about its nightly search for food.
Status
Near Threatened, having declined across parts of its range due to predation by introduced foxes and cats, habitat clearing, and altered fire regimes.
Long-Nosed Potoroo: common questions
Why is the long-nosed potoroo important to its forest?
This species plays a key ecological role by spreading the spores of underground fungi through its droppings as it forages, supporting the health of mycorrhizal fungi networks that many forest trees rely on to absorb nutrients from the soil.
What does the long-nosed potoroo eat?
This species feeds heavily on underground fungi, supplemented with roots, tubers, seeds, and insects, all dug up from the soil using strong, well-developed foreclaws that leave distinctive small digging pits scattered across the forest floor.
Why has the long-nosed potoroo declined?
This species has suffered population declines primarily due to predation by introduced foxes and cats, which have proven especially effective at hunting this small, ground-dwelling marsupial, compounded by habitat clearing and altered fire regimes across parts of its range.
How is the long-nosed potoroo related to kangaroos?
This species is a small member of the broader kangaroo family, though considerably smaller than true kangaroos and wallabies, with a rat-like build and a pointed, elongated snout adapted for digging up its preferred fungal food.