Head to head
Burrowing Bettong vs Gilbert's Potoroo
The burrowing bettong and Gilbert's potoroo share a similar story of near-total disappearance followed by intensive conservation recovery, though the two species differ dramatically in lifestyle and just how close each came to being lost forever.
| Burrowing Bettong | Gilbert's Potoroo | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Bettongia lesueur | Potorous gilbertii |
| Historical fate | Extinct across the entire mainland | Presumed extinct for over a century |
| Rediscovery/recovery | Survived on offshore islands | Rediscovered in 1994 |
| Distinctive trait | Only macropod that lives in burrows | Extremely fungus-dependent diet |
| Current natural range | Select islands and reserves | A tiny part of coastal Western Australia |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Critically Endangered |
| Population trend | Increasing | Increasing |
| Habitat | Desert, grassland | Forest, coastal |
Burrowing Bettong vs Gilbert's Potoroo: common questions
Which species is rarer, the burrowing bettong or Gilbert's potoroo?
Gilbert's potoroo is considerably rarer, historically numbering only in the low hundreds and confined to a single tiny area of Western Australian coastline, while the burrowing bettong, despite going extinct across the entire mainland, has recovered more substantially across multiple offshore islands and reintroduction sites.
What makes the burrowing bettong unique among kangaroos?
This species is the only member of the entire kangaroo family known to live in underground burrows, a lifestyle unmatched by any other macropod, including Gilbert's potoroo, which shelters above ground rather than digging its own burrow system.
How did Gilbert's potoroo come back from presumed extinction?
This species went unrecorded for more than a century and was widely presumed extinct before an unexpected rediscovery in 1994, after which conservationists began intensive efforts including translocation to predator-free islands and fenced reserves to protect the tiny surviving population.