The potoroo is a tiny, truffle-hunting marsupial surviving against the odds in Australia

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Often mistaken for a rat-kangaroo, the potoroo is a solitary, ground-dwelling marsupial that plays a vital role in forest ecosystems. While once widespread, these small creatures have faced steep population declines since European settlement. Today, they rely on dense undergrowth for protection from invasive predators and habitat loss.

The potoroo belongs to the family Potoroidae, a group of smaller macropodids related to kangaroos and wallabies. Physically, they are defined by a long, tapering nose and a distinct naked patch of skin on the snout. Their dental structure is highly specialized, featuring sharp canines and serrated premolars designed for a diet that consists primarily of fungi, such as truffles and mushrooms, supplemented by seeds and arthropods.

These animals are generally solitary and nocturnal, using their keen sense of smell to locate food before excavating the ground with their forepaws. Despite their small size, they are prolific breeders. Females reach sexual maturity at about one year of age and, while they typically raise one young per pregnancy, they utilize a biological process known as embryonic diapause to produce three to four offspring annually.

The survival of the genus has been precarious since the 19th century. Introduced species, particularly the red fox and domestic cat, have devastated populations that were once common enough to be considered agricultural pests. Habitat destruction has further fragmented their distribution, which now stretches from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria, with more stable numbers found in Tasmania where foxes are largely absent. Conservation efforts, such as those at the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, have shown that targeted intervention can help recover critically endangered populations.

The taxonomy of the potoroo has shifted over time. While five species were described by 1888, a revision by Oldfield Thomas consolidated the group into three extant species. The broad-faced potoroo, however, vanished shortly after its initial discovery. Understanding these animals is essential, as they fall within the critical weight range for Australian mammals—those weighing between 35 and 4,200 grams—which have historically faced the highest risk of extinction following British settlement.

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