Nature conservation

Threatened species

Northern long-nosed 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 tridactylus tridactylus
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
Commonwealth status: Vulnerable
Gazetted date: 01 Nov 2024
Profile last updated: 01 Nov 2024

Description

Adult long-nosed potoroos weigh up to 1.6 kg (740 - 1640 grams) and have a head and body length of about 360 mm and a tail length between 200 - 260 mm. Its fur is greyish-brown above and light grey below. It is distinguished from the slightly larger, but very similar long-footed potoroo in a number of subtle ways including its shorter tail (less than 250 mm long) and smaller hind-foot (shorter than its head). Also, unlike the long-footed potoroo the long-nosed potoroo lacks a leathery pad on the sole of its foot, just behind the inner toe (a hallucal pad).

Distribution

The long-nosed potoroo is found on the south-eastern coast of Australia, from Queensland to eastern Victoria and Tasmania, including some of the Bass Strait islands. There are geographically isolated populations in western Victoria. In NSW it is generally restricted to coastal heaths and forests east of the Great Dividing Range, with an annual rainfall exceeding 760 mm.

Habitat and ecology

  • Inhabits coastal heaths and dry and wet sclerophyll forests. Dense understorey with occasional open areas is an essential part of habitat, and may consist of grass-trees, sedges, ferns or heath, or of low shrubs of tea-trees or melaleucas. A sandy loam soil is also a common feature.
  • The fruit-bodies of hypogeous (underground-fruiting) fungi are a large component of the diet of the Long-nosed Potoroo. They also eat roots, tubers, insects and their larvae and other soft-bodied animals in the soil.
  • Often digs small holes in the ground in a similar way to bandicoots.
  • Mainly nocturnal, hiding by day in dense vegetation - however, during the winter months animals may forage during daylight hours.
  • Individuals are mainly solitary, non-territorial and have home range sizes ranging between 2-5 ha.
  • Breeding peaks typically occur in late winter to early summer and a single young is born per litter. Adults are capable of two reproductive bouts per annum.

Regional distribution and habitat

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


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

Information sources

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
New England TablelandsEbor Basalts Predicted None
New England TablelandsNortheast Forest Lands Known None
New England TablelandsStanthorpe Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsWalcha Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsWongwibinda Plateau Known None
NSW North CoastBarrington Known None
NSW North CoastCataract Known None
NSW North CoastChaelundi Known None
NSW North CoastCoffs Coast and Escarpment Known None
NSW North CoastComboyne Plateau Known None
NSW North CoastDalmorton Known None
NSW North CoastKaruah Manning Known None
NSW North CoastMacleay Gorges Known None
NSW North CoastMacleay Hastings Known None
NSW North CoastMummel Escarpment Known None
NSW North CoastRocky River Gorge Known None
NSW North CoastTomalla Known None
NSW North CoastUpper Manning Known None
NSW North CoastWashpool Known None
NSW North CoastYuraygir Predicted None
OceanBatemans Shelf Known None
OceanTweed-Moreton Known None
OceanTwofold Shelf Known None
Other StateJervis Bay Territory Predicted None
Other StateQLD Known None
South East CornerBateman Known None
South East CornerEast Gippsland Lowlands Known None
South East CornerSouth East Coastal Ranges Known None
South Eastern HighlandsBungonia Known None
South Eastern HighlandsKybeyan-Gourock Known None
South Eastern HighlandsMonaro Predicted None
South Eastern QueenslandBurringbar-Conondale Ranges Known None
South Eastern QueenslandClarence Lowlands Known None
South Eastern QueenslandScenic Rim Known None
South Eastern QueenslandSunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands Known None
South Eastern QueenslandWoodenbong Known None
Sydney BasinBurragorang Predicted None
Sydney BasinEttrema Known None
Sydney BasinIllawarra Known None
Sydney BasinJervis Known None
Sydney BasinMoss Vale Known None
Sydney BasinPittwater Known None
Sydney BasinWyong Known None