Long-footed potoroo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-footed potoroo |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Potorous
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| Species: |
longipes
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The Long-footed potoroo (scientific name: Potorous longipes) is a small marsupial that lives in southeastern Australia. It is found near the coast where New South Wales and Victoria meet.
This special animal was first discovered in 1967. An adult male was found in a trap in a forest southwest of Bonang, Victoria. The long-footed potoroo is currently listed as a vulnerable animal. This means it needs protection to survive.
The long-footed potoroo is the biggest type of Potoroo. It looks a lot like the long-nosed potoroo. This animal is shy and active mostly at night, which means it is nocturnal. It eats mostly fungi, but also plants and small invertebrates. You can tell it apart from other potoroos by its bigger feet and longer tail.
Sadly, this potoroo faces dangers. These include being hunted by feral cats and foxes. Also, logging (cutting down trees) in its home areas is a problem.
Contents
About the Long-footed Potoroo
What is a Potoroo?
The long-footed potoroo is a very rare marsupial found only in Australia. A potoroo is a small marsupial that looks a bit like a tiny kangaroo. They are about the size of a rabbit. As their name suggests, these animals have very long back feet. These feet have strong claws.
Physical Features
The long-footed potoroo is the largest of all potoroos. Males can weigh up to 2.3 kilograms (about 5 pounds). Females are a bit smaller, weighing around 1.4 kilograms (about 3 pounds). Their whole body, from nose to tail tip, is between 38 and 41.5 centimeters (15-16 inches) long. Their tail alone can be 31.5 to 32.5 centimeters (12-13 inches) long. Their hind feet are quite long, measuring 10.3 to 11.4 centimeters (4-4.5 inches).
You can tell this animal apart from other potoroos by its long back feet. These feet are long compared to the size of its head. They even have an extra footpad called the hallcual pad. Long-footed potoroos hop like kangaroos. They can also use their tails to hold onto things. They have soft, thick fur that is grayish-brown. This color slowly gets lighter on their feet and belly.
Life of a Long-footed Potoroo
Where They Live
The long-footed potoroo lives in different kinds of montane forests. It has also been found in warmer temperate rainforests. This species likes places where the soil stays moist. During the day, it sleeps in a hidden nest on the ground.
A very important part of the long-footed potoroo's home is thick plant cover. This cover helps protect them from predators. Since this species was only discovered in 1967, we don't know much about its past. It is native to Australia and lives in a very small area. The main groups are found in Victoria. These are in the Barry Mountains and East Gippsland. A smaller group lives north of Victoria, in the southeast forests of New South Wales.
How Many Are There?
It is very hard to find the long-footed potoroo in the wild because it is so shy. Experts believe there might only be a few hundred of these animals left. It is unlikely there are a few thousand.
What They Eat
The long-footed potoroo mostly eats underground fungi. These fungi are also called sporocarps or truffles. Up to 91% of their diet is made up of these fungi. They are known to eat at least 58 different kinds of fungi. If they need to, they might also eat fruits, plants, and small creatures that live in the soil.
The long-footed potoroo helps the forest stay healthy. When they eat fungi, they spread the fungi's spores through their poop. This helps the fungi grow in new places. This is a special partnership between the fungi and the trees. The types of fungi they eat change a little between seasons and years. They have a special stomach that helps them break down the fungi.
Behavior and Communication
The long-footed potoroo is very shy and hard to spot. When they are stressed or talking to their babies, they can make a soft "kiss kiss" sound. Even though they are mostly active at night, they might sometimes sunbathe in the early morning.
Long-footed potoroos usually stay hidden. Male potoroos are not aggressive normally. But if they feel threatened, they will defend their home.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Long-footed potoroos can breed all year round. However, most babies are born in winter, spring, and early summer. During these times, there is more rain and moist soil. This means there is plenty of food, which helps them breed easily.
When a female is ready to have babies, males will fight to show who is strongest. The species usually mates with only one partner. A pregnant female carries her baby for about 38 days. In zoos, baby potoroos stay in their mother's pouch for 140 to 150 days. They become old enough to have their own babies around 2 years old.
Females can have up to three babies a year, but usually have one or two. After leaving the pouch, the young can stay with their mothers for up to 20 weeks. They become independent after this time. They might stay in their mother's area for up to 12 months before moving away.
Movement Patterns
Long-footed potoroos move around their territory to find fungi. So, their territory changes with the seasons, following where the truffles grow. Males tend to use a larger area than females. They are territorial, meaning they protect their space. The territories of a mated pair can overlap with each other, but not with other pairs. Their home range is between 22 and 60 hectares (about 54-148 acres) in East Gippsland. In northeastern Victoria, it's between 14 and 23 hectares (about 34-57 acres).
Protecting the Long-footed Potoroo
Current Status
As of 2006, the long-footed potoroo is listed as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN Red List. This means it is at a very high risk of extinction. It is considered endangered because it lives in a small area, less than 5,000 square kilometers (about 1,930 square miles). The number of these animals is likely going down. This is due to predators and competition for food from wild pigs. It is also listed as an Endangered Species by laws in New South Wales and Victoria, and by Australian national law.
Dangers They Face
The biggest dangers to long-footed potoroos are predators like red foxes, feral cats, and wild dogs. Building roads also disturbs their home. Potoroos sometimes move along these roads to find food, which puts them at risk of being hit by cars. About half of the long-footed potoroos live in the State Forest of Victoria. Wild pigs have been brought into their native area. These pigs might compete with the potoroos for their special diet of fungi.
Conservation Efforts
We don't have a lot of information about this rare species. To protect it well, more studies are needed on its life and home. Researchers were able to study a small group of potoroos that bred in captivity. This happened in the 1980s and 1990s at the Healesville Sanctuary. This helped scientists learn about their behavior and how they reproduce.
Small steps are being taken to help the long-footed potoroo population grow. In the State Forest of Victoria, the potoroo is protected. Logging is watched closely or stopped in certain areas. Also, controlled burning of the forest has been reduced. Their natural predators like wild dogs, red foxes, and feral cats are also being controlled. These efforts help the long-footed potoroo reclaim its home and increase its numbers. These conservation plans also help other threatened animals in the area.
Impact of Bushfires
During the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, over 82% of the long-footed potoroo's habitat was burned. This was a huge blow to the species.
