Potoroidae

marsupial family

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July 16, 2026

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The Potoroidae are a family of 11 species of Australian and Tasmanian marsupials, commonly known as rat kangaroos. They are related to kangaroos but differ in skull and urogenital anatomy, as well as jaw musculature and the presence of large canine teeth.1

Rat kangaroos are rabbit-sized or smaller and possess prehensile tails used for gathering nesting materials. They inhabit undergrowth and are primarily nocturnal, feeding on grasses, tubers, and fungi, with some also consuming grubs and worms.1

The family includes bettongs (genus Bettongia), potoroos (genus Potorous), the rufous rat kangaroo (Aepyprymnus rufescens), and the musky rat kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus). Many species are endangered or near threatened, largely due to predation by introduced foxes. The musky rat kangaroo is the most primitive, retaining ancestral traits and being active during the day.1

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marsupial
Classification
Family Potoroidae (rat kangaroos, potoroos, and bettongs)10 or so species in 4 genera. Similar to the macropodids but smaller, shorter-footed, and living mainly in undergrowth. Includes potoroos (Potorous) and bettongs (Bettongia). Family Burramyidae (pygmy possums)5
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Family Potoroidae (rat kangaroos, potoroos, and bettongs)10 or so species in 4 genera. Similar to the macropodids but smaller, shorter-footed, and living mainly in undergrowth. Includes potoroos (Potorous) and bettongs (Bettongia). Family Burramyidae (pygmy possums)5
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rat kangaroo
…Tasmanian marsupials constituting the families Potoroidae and Hypsiprymnodontidae, related to the kangaroo family, Macropodidae. Other potoroids are known only as fossils; the Potoroidae were already separated from the Macropodidae by the late Oligocene Epoch, some 25 million years ago.
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…Tasmanian marsupials constituting the families Potoroidae and Hypsiprymnodontidae, related to the kangaroo family, Macropodidae. Other potoroids are known only as fossils; the Potoroidae were already separated from the Macropodidae by the late Oligocene Epoch, some 25 million years ago.
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