The Quokka is a tiny marsupial that is the only member of the genus (Setonix) and was mistaking thought to be a rat by early Dutch explorers. They are mostly found in far Southwestern mainland Australia and on several islands off the Southwest coast, mainly on Rottnest island. Quokkas are characterized by their thick brown-grey fur, wide puffed-out cheeks, short pointed muzzle, rounded ears and short tail (Campbell & Woods, 2013).
Quokka (left) by Thomas
Rutter and Quokka (right) by Sam West
Quokkas
live in swamp areas that contain the tea-tree (Taxandria linearifolia) also nickname “swamp peppermint”. They
also live in woodland areas that contain Eucalyptus marginate, Corymbia
calophylla, E. diversicolor and E. jacksonii which the Quokka can climb and
feed on (Burbidge & Woinarski, 2019). The shrub Guichenotia ledifolia is considered to be the Quokkas favourite
plant to feed on and receive water from the food they eat (Hayward, 2005).
Taxandria
linearifolia (right) by Kevin Thiele and Eucalyptus marginate (middle) & shrub Guichenotia
ledifolia (left) by unknown.
Quokkas have little fear of humans and have been known to
approach people camping, cafes, and other areas where humans eat. When Quokkas
eat human food, they become very sick and dehydrated leading the Quokka to be
at risk from predators and car accidents. Predation by Red foxes and feral cats
on islands has led to a decline in the population and habitat degradation of
the swamps by feral pigs has cause the food shortage (Burbidge & Woinarski,
2019).
Next time, we will be covering a species of crane that is
believed to mate for life and preform courtship dances.
References
Burbidge, A.A. & Woinarski, J. 2019. Setonix
brachyurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T20165A21952167.
Campbell, I, & Woods, S 2013, Wildlife of Australia,
Princeton University Press, Princeton. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central.
[3 May 2019].
Hayward, M.W. 2005, "Diet of the quokka ( Setonix
brachyurus ) (Macropodidae : Marsupialia) in the northern jarrah forest of
Western Australia", Wildlife Research, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 15-22.
Picture references
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