Long-footed Potoroo - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Potorous longipes

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 02 Oct 2015

Profile last updated: 11 Aug 2023

Description

The potoroos are a group of small rabbit-sized ‘primitive’ kangaroos, typically restricted to habitats with dense understorey vegetation. They have a long-nosed, somewhat bandicoot-like face and an almost hairless tail. The long-footed potoroo has a head and body length of about 400 mm, a tail length of about 320 mm and weighs between 1.6 - 2.2 kg. It has grey-brown fur that is paler on the underside. It is distinguished from the very similar long-nosed potoroo in a number of subtle ways including its longer tail (more than 300 mm long) and large hind-foot (longer than its head). Also, unlike the long-nosed potoroo, the long-footed potoroo has a leathery pad on the sole of its foot, just behind the inner toe (a hallucal pad).

Distribution

The long-footed potoroo has a very limited distribution and is extremely rare. Two core populations occur in Victoria and a much smaller population has also been found in far south-eastern NSW, approximately 20 km north of the Victorian border in the South East. All known NSW populations now exist entirely within the South East Forests National Park. The species may also occur in adjacent State Forest and private land, but this remains to be determined.

Habitat and ecology

The Long-footed Potoroo typically inhabits moist forest types from montane wet sclerophyll forests over 1000m altitude to lowland forests at 150m.
High soil moisture content throughout the year is an essential component of the habitat for the Long-footed Potoroo, allowing for its primary food source, the fruit-bodies of hypogeous (underground fruiting) fungi, to persist. These fungi make up about 90% of its diet. Fruit and some small invertebrates are also eaten.
Makes small conical pits in the ground as it searches at night for fungal fruit-bodies. During the day it shelters in a crude nest under dense understorey vegetation.
Home range size varies according to habitat quality, ranging from about 10 hectares up to 40 hectares.
Breeding occurs throughout the year, with single young born in winter, spring and early summer.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

South East Corner

Threats

One or more of the following factors may have contributed to the rarity of the Long-footed Potoroo in NSW, although there is no evidence to suggest that the species was ever common and few data to suggest it was ever widely distributed elsewhere across the State.
Fire and logging regimes or other disturbances that reduce the availability and abundance of hypogeous fungi and ground cover.
Predation by foxes particularly if human disturbances reduce understorey vegetation cover and increase predator activity.
Competition for fungal food resources with the feral pig.
Extinction of smaller colonies through lack of breeding opportunity or success.
Habitat fragmentation that isolates populations, thereby reducing genetic exchange.
Predation by feral cats.
Lack of knowledge of the species abundance and distribution in NSW

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Ensure that personnel planning and undertaking hazard reduction burns are aware of habitat protection areas.
Undertake fox, feral dog and feral cat control programs in habitat areas.
Undertake feral pig control.
Apply fire regimes that maintain dense understorey vegetation cover .
Protect and maintain known and potential habitat, especially dense understorey.

Information sources

Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Uni Press, Melbourne.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Long-footed Potoroo Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.
Nunan D., Henry S., and Tennant P. (1998) Long-footed Potoroo Potorous longipes (Seebeck and Johnston, 1980) Recovery Plan. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Orbost, Victoria.
Seebeck J.H. (1995) Long-footed Potoroo Potorous longipes. Pp. 298-9 in Strahan, R.(ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney.
Seebeck J.H. (1995) Long-footed Potoroo. Pp. 129-131 in Menkhorst, P. (ed.). The Mammals of Victoria - Distribution, Ecology and Conservation. Oxford University Press, Australia.