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

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 11 Aug 2023

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

Habitat loss and fragmentation from land clearing for residential and agricultural development.
Predation from foxes, wild dogs and cats.
Inappropriate fire regimes reduce the density and floristic diversity of understorey vegetation.
Logging or other disturbances that reduce the availability and abundance food resources, particularly hypogeous fungi, and ground cover.
Unplanned clearing in areas where the species occurs on private property is likely to degrade the species' habitat.
Need to better understand how or if native or introduced predators impact Long-nosed Potoroo abundance in the long-term.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Desex domestic cats and dogs.
Undertake fox, wild dog and cat control programs.
Apply fire regimes that maintain dense understorey vegetation cover.
Where fire control is necessary apply mosaic pattern hazard reduction burns to ensure the same areas are not burned continuously.
Fence areas of habitat to avoid grazing and trampling by domestic stock.
Prevent domestic cats and dogs from roaming into areas of habitat.
Protect and maintain habitat, especially dense understorey. Provide linkages across the broader landscape.

Information sources

Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Uni Press, Melbourne.
Seebeck J.H. (1995) Long-nosed Potoroo. Pp. 131-133 in Menkhorst, P. (ed.). The Mammals of Victoria - Distribution, Ecology and Conservation. Oxford University Press, Australia.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Predicted	None
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	East Gippsland Lowlands	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kybeyan-Gourock	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Monaro	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None

Images

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