Gilbert’s Potoroo Potorous gilbertii (Gould, 1841)

Subspecies None recognised

Description Small nocturnal rat-kangaroo bearing some resemblance to a bandicoot. The body, but not the tail, is densely furred. It is brown to gray above and paler below. The snout is slender and curves slightly downwards. Males and females are similar in body size.

Other Common Names Ngilgyte (indigenous name)

Distribution Past distribution of this species was restricted to areas of high rainfall in the south-west corner of Western Australia. Currently it is known to only occur in small, restricted pockets in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, in Western Australia. It has been Photo: Rochelle Pyle translocated to Bald Island, east of Albany. Two captive breeding colonies have been established, to supplement re-introductions. For further information regarding the distribution of this species Size please refer to www.naturemap.dec.wa.gov.au Head and body length 286-371 mm in males Habitat 291-343 mm in females Known habitats are uplands of low, dense heath containing many small patches of open ground. Of 14 animals tracked by spool and Tail length thread, 10 showed a preference for foraging in open or semi-open 215-232 mm in males country while four foraged among dense cover. 200-236 mm in females Behaviour Weight Little is known of the social behaviour of wild Potorous gilbertii. Limited studies have shown that potoroos may travel up to a 845-1200 g males kilometre from their day-time shelters while foraging and return to the same area each morning. Individuals occupy at least partially 710-1095 g females without pouch young overlapping home ranges. Accumulations of sheoak needles are 708-1205 g females, including weight of pouch young sometimes used for shelter. Their main food source of underground fungi is located by scent and extracted by digging to a depth of up to 15cm.

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Fauna profiles Gilbert’s Potoroo

Diet • Determine habitat requirements. Gilbert’s Potoroo feeds mainly on underground fungi (which are a • Management of habitat from frequent and extensive fire using the common dietary item of other potoroo species) supplemented with a policy of fire exclusion and fuel reduction in strategic areas. few invertebrates and small fleshy fruits of Billardiera, Leucopogon, • Stringent hygiene practices to prevent dieback infection. Astroloma and Marianthus when available. • Exotic predator control - 1080 baiting and cat trapping. Breeding • Manage captive breeding colony at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Females become sexually mature by the end of their first year and males may breed before the end of their second year. Breeding • Monitor known populations. occurs throughout the year and whilst behavioural evidence suggests that Gilbert’s Potoroo have a monogamous breeding system, DNA • Search for additional populations in suitable habitat. testing has shown a third of young do not share the DNA of the male • Develop techniques to enhance the reproductive potential (e.g. in the pair. A single young is born and remains in the pouch for three cross-fostering). to four months, first emerging when around 150 g. • Community education on the need for fire protection and baiting Threatening processes at Two Peoples Bay. Reasons for decline remain unknown. Predation by foxes and cats, Other interesting facts and changed fire regimes resulting in loss of dense vegetation, may have led to a decline in Gilbert’s Potoroo. Dieback caused by • John Gilbert’s notes recorded the Potoroo as being “the Phytophthora cinnamomi may also be a serious threat to the survival constant companion” of the Quokka. of the species by altering the vegetation structure or eliminating • Gilbert’s Potoroo was presumed to be extinct until it was plants which are food sources themselves or hosts to the mycorrhizal rediscovered in 1994 with the capture of five individuals in Two fungi on which the potoroo feeds. Gilbert’s Potoroo has only been Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany, Western Australia. found in areas free of dieback within Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Selected references Conservation status Courtenay, J.A. and Friend, J.A. (2004). Gilbert’s Potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) Recovery Plan. Wildlife Management Program No. 32. Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 Department of Conservation and Land Management. Schedule 1 – Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct Danks, A. (1996). Two Peoples Bay: A Haven for the Lost and (Threatened ranked as Critically Endangered) Found. Landscope 11(4): 35. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Friend, J.A. (2008). Gilbert’s Potoroo. In Van Dyck, S. and R. Critically Endangered Strahan (Eds.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Hew Holland. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Sydney.

Critically Endangered (Version 3.1) Start, T., Burbidge, A., Sinclair, E. and Wayne, A. (1995). Lost & Found: Gilbert's Potoroo. Landscope 10(3): 28. Management Maxwell S., Burbidge A.A, Morris K. (1996). The 1996 Action Plan for A recovery plan has been written for this species (see Courtenay and Australian Marsupials and Monotremes. Wildlife Australia, Canberra. Friend, 2004). Recovery and management actions proposed and being implemented include:

Last updated 8 February 2012, for further enquiries please contact [email protected]

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