Quokka
Species of small nocturnal marsupial / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The quokka (/ˈkwɒkə/) (Setonix brachyurus)[4] is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. It is the only member of the genus Setonix. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as kangaroos and wallabies), the quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.[5]
Not to be confused with Quagga.
Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
Quokka | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | Macropodidae |
Subfamily: | Macropodinae |
Genus: | Setonix Lesson, 1842[2] |
Species: | S. brachyurus |
Binomial name | |
Setonix brachyurus | |
Geographic range |
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The quokka's range is a small area of southwestern Australia. They inhabit some smaller islands off the coast of Western Australia, particularly Rottnest Island just off Perth and Bald Island near Albany. Isolated, scattered populations also exist in forest and coastal heath between Perth and Albany. A small colony inhabits a protected area of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, where they co-exist with the critically endangered Gilbert's potoroo.[6]