Gilbert's Potoroo What is a Gilbert's Potoroo?

Gilbert's potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) is the world's rarest marsupial. It has large eyes, thick greyish-brown fur on the top of its body and paler fur on its underside. It has a long almost-hairless tail.

It is a nocturnal, herbivorous marsupial weighing roughly one kilo and about 27cm in length. Its life expectancy is about 7-10 years.
The potoroos' diet consists almost entirely of the fruiting bodies of underground fungi (truffles), which it digs up with its front limbs with craved claws designed for digging.

Porotoees reach sexual maturity in about a year. Females have one baby at a time but can have up to three litters a year.

It is estimated that there are only 30-40 animals left in the wild — another 100 or so animals as now being protected in two conservation colonies.

Habitat loss and attacks by feral cats and foxes introduced by European settlers are responsible for the critically endangered status of this animal.

Introduced Australian Animals — Animals Brought by European Settlers