ratkangaroo

The rat kangaroo is a common name applied to several species of small macropods in the genus Potorous. These marsupials are native to Australia and are characterized by their rat-like heads and long, pointed snouts. They are distinct from kangaroos and wallabies, though they belong to the same family, Macropodidae. Rat kangaroos are herbivores, primarily feeding on fungi, roots, seeds, and insects. They are nocturnal or crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the night or at dawn and dusk, spending daylight hours in burrows.

Potoroo species vary in size, but are generally much smaller than kangaroos. They possess strong forelimbs with sharp claws, used for digging and foraging. Their hind limbs are adapted for hopping, though their gait is more of a bounding run than the powerful leaps of larger macropods. Females carry their young, called joeys, in a pouch. The conservation status of rat kangaroo species varies, with some facing significant threats from habitat loss, introduced predators like foxes and cats, and changes in fire regimes. Efforts are underway to protect remaining populations and their habitats.