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The Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a small macropod, about the size of a large domestic cat. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as the kangaroos and wallabies), the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2476x2272, 664 KB) A Quokka on Rottnest taken by myself with an Oylmpus C8080w. ...
The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ...
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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ...
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For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ...
Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ...
Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex...
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Suborders Vombatiformes Phalangeriformes Macropodiformes Diprotodontia is a large taxon of about 120 marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, Koala, wombats, and many others. ...
Genera See text Macropods are marsupials belonging to the family Macropodidae, which includes kangaroos, wallabies, tree kangaroos, pademelons, and several others. ...
René Lesson. ...
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Jean René Constant Quoy (November 10, 1790 - July 4, 1869) was a French zoologist. ...
Joseph Paul Gaimard (lithograph by Emile Lassalle) Joseph Paul Gaimard (1796 - 1858) was a French naturalist. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1067 pixel, file size: 725 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Quokka, Melbourne Zoo If you are a (commercial) publisher and you want me to write you an email or paper mail giving you an authorization to...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1067 pixel, file size: 725 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Quokka, Melbourne Zoo If you are a (commercial) publisher and you want me to write you an email or paper mail giving you an authorization to...
Genera Lagostrophus Dendrolagus Dorcopsis Dorcopsulus Lagorchestes Macropus Onychogalea Petrogale Setonix Thylogale Wallabia Tree kangaroos have smaller ears for easier maneuvering between tree branches, and much longer tail. ...
This article is about mammals. ...
Species Macropus rufus Macropus giganteus Macropus fuliginosus Macropus antilopinus A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning large foot). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the Red Kangaroo, the Antilopine Kangaroo, and the Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroo...
For other uses, see Wallaby (disambiguation). ...
Ecology In the wild, its roaming is restricted to a very small range in the South-West of Western Australia. The Quokka has become rare, but remains a protected species on two islands off the coast of that area, Bald Island, Rottnest Island, Garden Island and rarely Penguin Island. Both islands are free of foxes and cats. On Rottnest Island, it is common and occupies a wide range of habitats, ranging from semi-arid scrub to cultivated gardens. For the Bald Island in Broke Inlet, see Bald Island (Broke Inlet). ...
Rottnest Island from space The Basin and Bathurst Lighthouse Rottnest Island ( ) is located 19 km off the coast of Western Australia, near Fremantle. ...
Location of Garden Island, Western Australia Garden Island is a slender island about ten kilometres long and one and a half kilometres wide, lying about five kilometres off the Western Australian coast ( ). Like Rottnest Island and Carnac Island, it is a limestone outcrop covered by a thin layer of sand...
Penguin Island ferry Penguin Island ( , ) is a 12. ...
Classification The Quokka is the only member of the genus Setonix. It weighs 2.5 to 5 kg and is 40 to 54 cm long with a 25 to 30 cm tail — which is rather short for a macropod. It has a stocky build, rounded ears, and a short, broad head. Although looking rather like a very small, dumpy kangaroo, it can climb small trees and shrubs. Its coarse fur is a grizzled brown colour, fading to buff underneath. The Quokka recycles a small amount of its waste products.
Behaviour The Quokka is gregarious and gathers in large groups where food is available: primary items are grasses, sedges, succulents and foliage. The health of some animals has suffered significantly by the ingestion of inappropriate foods, such as bread, given by well meaning visitors to Rottnest Island. Visitors are now asked to refrain from feeding them. It breeds at any time on the mainland, but in late summer on Rottnest. The Quokka only produces a single joey in a year. Restricted availability of the trace element copper appears to be a major limiting factor of the ability of the Quokka to breed on Rottnest. Subfamilies There are 7 subfamilies: Subfamily Arundinoideae Subfamily Bambusoideae Subfamily Centothecoideae Subfamily Chloridoideae Subfamily Panicoideae Subfamily Pooideae Subfamily Stipoideae The true grasses are monocotyledonous plants (Class Liliopsida) in the Family Poaceae, also known as Gramineae. ...
Genera See text The Family Cyperaceae, or the Sedge family, is a taxon of monocot flowering plants that superficially resemble grasses or rushes. ...
Succulent plants, such as this Aloe, store water in their fleshy leaves Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to xerophilic climatic or soil conditions. ...
A joey of Tasmanian Pademelon looking out from the mothers pouch A joey is any infant marsupial. ...
Microminerals (also known as trace elements) are micronutrients that are chemical elements. ...
For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ...
The Quokka's movements are similar to a kangaroo, using mixture of small and large hops.
Interaction with Humans Quokkas have no fear of humans and it is common for them to hop up close enough to humans to be petted, particularly on Rottnest Island. It is, however, illegal to handle the animals in any way. A AUD100 fine is a commonly issued penalty for doing so.
Status Although numerous on the small offshore islands, it has a very restricted range and is classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where it is threatened by introduced predatory species such as foxes, it requires dense ground cover for refuge. This refuge has been taken away from the Quokka due to loss of habitat due to agriculture which has contributed to the decline of the Quokka as well. Also, human-introduced cats and dogs, as well as dingoes, have contributed to the problem, as has the clearing and burning of the remaining swamplands the Quokka have left.
European discovery The Quokka was one of the first Australian mammals seen by Europeans. The Dutch mariner Samuel Volckertzoon wrote of sighting "a wild cat" on Rottnest Island in 1658. In 1696 Willem de Vlamingh mistook them for rats and named the island "Rottenest", Dutch for "rat nest". Willem de Vlamingh (born 28 November 1640, died ?) was a Dutch sailor who explored the southwest coast of Australia (then New Holland) in the late 17th Century. ...
References Dr Colin Groves is a Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. ...
is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ...
The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...
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