[3] All species of Potorous are well within the "critical weight range" for mammals in Australia, those weighing from 35 to 4,200 grams (0.077 to 9.3 lb; 1.2 to 150 oz) whose trajectory was toward decline or extinction during British settlement.

Once the long-nosed potoroo has located a possible food source (with its sense of smell), it positions itself to begin excavating with its fore paws.

[9] The skull of potoroos may be either narrow and elongated, as in the extant P. gilbertii, P. longipes, P. tridactylus, or broad and flattened, a feature of the extinct P. platyops.

The dentition is distinguished by sharp and strong canines, the broad permanent premolars are long and low with a profile that is serrated, concave, or horizontal at the cutting edge.

[7] The first depiction of a potoroo species was published in 1790 by John White in his Journal of a Voyage to Botany Bay, the caption describing the animal as a "Poto Roo".