MUSKY RAT-KANGAROO

The Musky rat-kangaroo belongs to the Rat kangaroo family, known as Potoroids, which also includes the Rufous Bettong and Potoroos.

The Musky rat-kangaroo is a small marsupial found in the  including areas such as the Daintree Rainforest and Cape York Peninsula. It is the smallest kangaroo species and is considered a living fossil due to its primitive characteristics.

Musky rat-kangaroos are tiny compared to other kangaroo species, measuring about 15 to 20 cm in length. They weigh around 350 to 500 grams. They have short, coarse fur that is reddish-brown or greyish-brown in colour, and their tails are relatively long and scaly.

These tiny kangaroos are primarily terrestrial, although they are able to move through the branches of the lower vegetation. They are mostly solitary and secretive, spending much of their time foraging on the forest floor for fallen fruits, seeds, and other plant matter. They have a musky odour, which gives them their common name.

The Musky rat-kangaroo is listed as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Its population has declined due to habitat loss caused by deforestation and land development. Additionally, they are vulnerable to predation by introduced predators, such as cats and dogs.

The Musky rat-kangaroo, along with the Cassowary, is one of only two species essential to the rainforest as seed-dispensers.