Critter Science
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Gilbert's potoroo

The Gilbert’s Potoroo

  • 22 January, 2025
  • Critterman
  • No Comments
  • 52 Views
  • 1 Likes
Daily Critter Facts, Land Mammal Facts, Marsupial Facts

The Gilbert’s potoroo is the rarest marsupial in the world and Australia’s most endangered marsupial. For a long time they were thought to be extinct. They are only found in couple of locations in Australia. They face the threats of fires and fire suppression, and invasive species that result in predation and potential disease. The IUCN lists these critters as Critically Endangered. Their population is, albeit slowly, increasing.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Potorous gilbertii
Weight: Up to 34 ounces
Length: Up to 11 inches, plus up to a 9.1 inch tail
Lifespan: Up to 10 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) The Gilbert’s potoroo was 1 of the first species noticed as disappearing after the British colonization.

2.) These critters were presumed to be extinct, having not been spotted in around 100 years, before they were rediscovered in 1994 in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve.

3.) Liz Sinclair had been doing research on wallabies, and caught the potoroo in 1 of her traps. She then compared her captured specimen with the skeletons of other past potoroos, and proved it was definitely a Gilbert’s potoroo.

4.) 90% of the species’ habitat was destroyed by a large bushfire. Fortunately, 7 of the potoroos were rescued before the fire came through.

5.) The specific epithet was suggested by Gould to recognize John Gilbert and suggested the common name of Gilbert’s rat kangaroo.

But wait, there’s more on the Gilbert’s potoroo!

6.) A review of historical records for the names in the Nyungar language proposed the adoption of ngilkat as the standard spelling of its preferred common name.

7.) Recently, translocation and conservation efforts have had some success in increasing their populations.

Did you know…?
There were only an estimated 100 individuals, with 10 on Middle Island, 70 on Bald Island, 20 at Waychinicup National Park, and 2 at Two Peoples Bay as of 2018!

8.) They feast on a variety of species of truffle-like fungi (40 various species of fungi have been found in their feces – poop), leaves, stems, and some invertebrates. These critters also might eat fleshy fruits.

9.) Females can birth up to 2 joeys a year. She rears 1 while the 2nd is kept in diapause (delay in development).

10.) The gestation (pregnancy) lasts up to 38 days, and when the joey is born it only measures up to .39 inch. In comparison, a standard grain of rice measures up to .26 inch.

But wait, there’s still more on the Gilbert’s potoroo!

11.) The joey further develops in its mother’s marsupium (pouch) for another 4 months.

12.) In 2001, the Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group was developed to aid in the education and public awareness of the potoroos. This group also assists with raising funds for their research and captive-breeding programs.

13.) A fatal disease, cryptococcosis, was also discovered among wild populations and may be yet another factor in these critter’s demise.

14.) Indigenous rangers are currently helping to set up and monitor the population on Middle Island, which is around 75 miles (plus a 2.5 hour boat trip) south-east of Esperance. In July 2022, potoroos were seen on camera in a new location, and a sighting of 2 adults and 1 joey showed that they were apparently breeding on the island.

15.) These critters are nocturnal (active at night).

Now a Short Gilbert’s Potoroo Video!

Be sure to share & comment below! Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added regularly!

Subscribe

Want to suggest a critter for me to write about? Let me know here.

Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN

Photo credit: Mick wackers

Australiaconservationconservation effortscritically endangeredGilbert's potoroojoeymarsupialmarsupiumpotoroopouchrarestrarest marsupial
Critterman

With over 50 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

The Burchell’s Zebra
The Gray Sac-Winged Bat
Related Posts
  • Nepal house martin
    The Nepal House Martin 4 July, 2025
  • booted eagle
    The Booted Eagle 3 July, 2025
  • Wyoming toad
    The Wyoming Toad 2 July, 2025
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Guest Articles
  • BYET
  • Teachers
  • Study Guides
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.