Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a marsupial mammal found in south western Western Australia and Rottnest Island. They are terrestrial and gregarious, are active day and night, and are very social animals.
Their preferred habitat is coastal shrublands, heath, eucalypt forests and woodlands with shrubby understorey. They eat grass, leaves and succulent plants.
They breed all year round on the mainland and in January or March on Rottnest Island. They have 1 young called a joey, are mature at 2 years, and live for up to 10 years.
Quokkas have grey-brown, coarse, thick fur and look much like other small wallabies except that the short thick tail has visible scales. The female has 4 teats. Although similar to the wallaby in appearance, they have recently been determined to be in a different class to that of the wallaby.
Males grow up to 540 mm and can weigh up to 4.2 kg, females grow up to 500 mm and can weigh up to 3.5 kg.
Quokkas are making a comeback on the mainland where introduced predators are controlled. They are considered to be vulnerable.
The Dutch navigator Willem de Vlamingh, named Rottnest island (Rat nest) because he thought Quokkas were large rats.
A quokka is a small marsupial (about the size of a domesticated cat) in which lives in only a small part of Australia (in south west Australia). It is described as a mini wallaroo which eats insects. It is described as small, brown and shy.
Conservation status: Vunerable to Endangered.
Diet: Mainly insects. Also fruits, grass and seeds. Occasionally small mammals and reptiles.
Size: Small. Possibly up to 64 Centimeters long. (the size of a domestic cat)
Range: South west Australia.
A young Quokka is called a joey.
The average weight of an adult quokka is about 3.5 kg.
Yes. The quokka is a mammal and, like all mammals, it is a vertebrate, meaning it has a backbone. The quokka is one of the smaller members of the kangaroo family.
Quokka is pronounced exactly as it looks: "quock - a", with the accent on the first syllable.
Quokkas were not created. They were discovered by English travelers.
No, the quokka is not endangered. Its classification is "vulnerable".
A young Quokka is called a joey.
The Quokka uses its tail for balance, like a cat
The average weight of an adult quokka is about 3.5 kg.
Yes. The quokka is a mammal and, like all mammals, it is a vertebrate, meaning it has a backbone. The quokka is one of the smaller members of the kangaroo family.
Quokka is pronounced exactly as it looks: "quock - a", with the accent on the first syllable.
Quokkas were not created. They were discovered by English travelers.
The quokka is a marsupial, or pouched mammal. It is a macropod, a member of the kangaroo family.
A quokka is a small member of the kangaroo family, native to southwestern Australia.
The Quokka is found only in the south western corner of Western Australia.
The quokka is a smaller member of the kangaroo family. Its pouch is positioned on its abdomen, like that of a kangaroo.
Yes, the Quokka has natural predators. Which include Some wild dogs and cats, dingos and snakes.