The Long-nosed Potoroo, Potorous tridactylus, is a threatened species, listed as Vulnerable in NSW and nationally. Long-nosed Potoroos are found on Australia’s south-east coast, from Queensland to Tasmania, in forests with dense understorey and occasional open areas, typically on sandy-loam soils. During the day they like to hide in dense sedges, ferns or bracken. At night they forage on roots, tubers, insects, larvae and worms, and their favourite is hypogeal fungi. That type of fungi is often mycorrhizal, where the fungi and eucalypts exchange carbohydrates, minerals and water through an interlocking root network. The mushroom part is the fungi's fruiting body, and when Potoroos or Bandicoots eat it, they help transport the spores and distribute the fungi through the forest.

 

At Manna Park the Long-nosed Potoroo can be found along Hostel Creek or Ford Creek, in or near patches of sedges. The following photos were taken using a motion-detecting infra-red camera, on Ford Creek near Bush Camp at GDA Coordinates 07 58 346, 59 18 894 (T.Hastings 7/8/2010). Click on either image to download a higher resolution picture.

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The following photos were taken using a motion-detecting infra-red camera, on Hostel Creek near Bridge 2 at GDA Coordinates 07 58 250 59 19 150 (T.Hastings `15/9/2010). Wounds can be seen above each rear leg, suggesting a luckty escape from the clutches of a Masked Owl.

Click on either image to download a higher resolution picture.

 

 

Potoroos are Macropods. In the following video clips you can see them using their hands to grasp food and hop on their hind feet like Kangaroos. Footage taken with motion detecting infra-red camera, near Hostel Creek, between Red Hill Rd and the Community Garden (T.Hastings 15/8/2010).