Long-footed potoroo
Long-footed potoroo | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | Potoroidae |
Genus: | Potorous |
Species: | P. longipes
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Binomial name | |
Potorous longipes |
The long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) is a small
P. longipes is the largest species of
Current threats to the species include predation by introduced feral cats and foxes, and loss of habitat from logging within its limited range.
Taxonomy
The scientific name of the animal commonly known as the long-footed potoroo is Potorous longipes. Potoroo is the common name for all of the three other species in the genus
Description and anatomy
The long-footed potoroo is a very rare marsupial only found in Australia. A potoroo is a small type of kangaroo-like marsupial.[5] It is about the size of a rabbit and its common name suggests, it has very long hind feet. These feet have long toes with very strong claws.[8] The species is the largest potoroos with males weighing up to 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) and females 1.4 kg (3.1 lb). The entire body length is 380–415 mm (15.0–16.3 in). The tail can be between 315 and 325 mm (12.4 and 12.8 in) in length, while the hind foot is 103–114 mm (4.1–4.5 in). This animal can be differentiated from other potoroos by its long back feet,[5] which are the same length relative to its head. It has an extra footpad called the hallcual pad.[6] The long-footed potoroo hops in a similar fashion to a kangaroo, yet can use its tail to grasp objects.[9] It has a soft, dense coat, with grayish-brown fur that slowly fades into a lighter color on the feet and belly.[8]
Behavior and life history
Habitat and distribution
The long-footed potoroo lives in a range of
Population
The long-footed potoroo is very difficult to find in the wild due to its shy behavior. The National Recovery Plan states that a few thousand individuals are unlikely to remain in the wild as of now; only a few hundred long-footed potoroos may survive.[1]
Diet
Long-footed potoroos' diet normally consists of up to 91% of fruiting fungi found under ground.
The long-footed potoroo plays a part in the symbiotic relationship between the fungi (Ectomycorrhizae) and the trees. It helps this relationship by releasing the spores of the fruiting fungi through its fecal material. In turn, this helps keep the forest healthy, benefiting both the fungi and the forest.[8] The species of fungi that are eaten in the winter and summer are similar, but the amount of each type of fungal species varies between seasons and years.[7] It has a sacculated fore stomach in which bacterial fermentation occurs. This aids in the breakdown of fungal cell walls.[9]
Behavior/communication
The long-footed potoroo is very shy and elusive. It can produce a vocalization, a low kiss kiss sound when stressed or to communicate to its offspring.[8] Although the long-footed potoroo is a nocturnal species, it may partake in early-morning basking in the sun.[11] The long-footed potoroo is constantly hidden from plain sight. Under normal conditions, males are not aggressive. Nevertheless, if provoked, they can become aggressive in defending their home.[11]
Mating, reproduction, and parental care
Breeding can occur all year, yet most young are born in the winter, spring, and early summer. Higher rainfall and deep, moist soil full of leaf litter provides a stable food supply. In turn, these periods of good conditions allows breeding to occur easily.
Movement patterns
The long-footed potoroo moves to different parts of its territory due to the distribution of fungi. Thus seasonally, their territory boundaries change following the distribution of truffles. Males use a larger home range area than females use. The species is territorial and the territories of mated pairs can overlap with each other, but not with other pairs. The home range of the long-footed potoroo is between 22 and 60 ha in East Gippsland and between 14 and 23 ha in north-eastern Victoria.[7]
Conservation issues
Status
As of 2006, the long-footed potoroo has been classified as endangered (EN) by the IUCN Red List. According to the IUCN Red List, the long-footed potoroo is considered endangered because its area of occurrence is less than 5,000 km2. The dispersed area where the animal is found is most likely in a decline of the number of individuals due to predators and competition for food from introduced pigs.[1] It is listed as an endangered species on schedule 1 of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. It is also considered an endangered species under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and as endangered by the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[8]
Threats
Their most serious predators include the red fox, feral cats, and wild dogs, all invasive species. Their habitat is greatly disturbed due to building roads, thus they have seemed to move along these roads and forage for food in these areas. This also causes a threat from being hit with a motor vehicle. In Victoria, the State Forest has about half of the long-footed potoroo population. Introduced pigs may be a large competitor for the long-footed potoroo's specialized diet.[1]
Conservation plans
Information on this rare species is spotty. Thus, to conserve it effectively, further studies on its way of life and habitat need to be conducted. Research was performed on a small captive population that was able to breed in the 1980s and 1990s at the Healesville Sanctuary.[8] Small steps have been taken to increase the population of long-footed potoroo and to protect it from extinction. In the State Forest of Victoria, the long-footed potoroo is protected through special areas in which logging is monitored or prevented and burning of the forest has been reduced.[1] Their natural predators such as the wild dogs, red fox and feral cats have also been put under control. This will allow the long-footed potoroo to reclaim their habitat and allow their numbers to rise again. Conservation plans such as these will not only benefit the long-footed potoroo, but will also be beneficial to other threatened animal species in this area.[8]
2019–2020 Australian bushfires
Over 82% of its habitat was burnt during the
References
- ^ . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ .
- ISBN 0-00-219943-2.
- ^ Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 100.
- ^ a b c d "Long-footed Potoroo (Potorous longipes)". EDGE: Evolutionary Distinct &Globally Endangered. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9780643097391. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Long-footed Potoroo (Potorous longipes) Recovery Plan". Australian Government: Department of the Environment. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Claridge, Andrew. "Long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes)". Arkive. Archived from the original on 2014-12-14. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0643062572. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ISBN 9781741759037.
- ^ ISBN 9780801882111.)
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 9780643096622. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- S2CID 220657021.