potoroos

Potoroos are small to medium-sized marsupials belonging to the family Potoroidae. This family also includes kangaroos and wallabies, but potoroos are generally smaller and more solitary. They are native to Australia and are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and grasslands. There are currently four recognized species of potoroo: the long-nosed potoroo, the long-footed potoroo, the broad-faced potoroo, and the bettong. Historically, there were more species, but some have become extinct.

Potoroos are largely nocturnal and spend their days sheltering in burrows or dense vegetation. Their diet consists primarily of fungi, tubers, roots, seeds, and insects, making them important dispersers of fungal spores. They have a distinctive hopping locomotion, similar to kangaroos, but are more agile when foraging on the ground. Their forepaws are adapted for digging, allowing them to unearth their food.

Conservation status varies among the species. Some, like the long-nosed potoroo, are considered vulnerable or endangered due to habitat loss, predation by introduced species such as foxes and cats, and competition for resources. Efforts are underway to protect their remaining habitats and manage threats to their populations.