Last recorded alive in 1875, the enigmatic broad-faced potoroo was possibly an early victim of the expansion of European settlers into the western half of the Australian continent (4) (5). A member of the Potoroidae family, otherwise known as the “rat-kangaroos”, this diminutive marsupial had well developed hind-limbs, like those of a kangaroo, and short but muscular fore-limbs bearing small paws (2) (6). As alluded to in its name, the muzzle of the broad-faced potoroo was much shorter and wider than those of its extant relatives (4) (6).The coat colour was variable, with the hair on the back being grey at the base, passing into yellow-brown, then white, and tipped with black, while the underparts were dusky white (3).
- Average head-body length: 243 mm (2)
- Tail length: 183 mm (3)
- Average weight: 800 g (2)