Quokka
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Mammals
- Dietary Niche: Herbivore (Grasses, leaves, shrubs, succulents)
- Max Speed: 20 km/h (12 mph)
- Adult Weight: 2.5 - 5 kg (5.5 - 11 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
- Primary Habitat: Coastal scrublands, swampy forests, offshore islands
- Native Region: Southwestern Australia (Rottnest Island)
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Diprotodontia |
| Family | Macropodidae |
| Genus | Setonix |
| Species Binomial | Setonix brachyurus |
📖 1. Species Overview
Famous as the 'world's happiest animal' due to its smiling facial structure, the Quokka is a small macropod marsupial native to isolated pocket habitats in Western Australia.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Features thick brown-grey fur, round ears, a short tail, a compact body, and short hind legs compared to kangaroos.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Social and mostly nocturnal. They are skilled climbers and will search for freshwater sources on dry islands.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Feed on leaves and grasses, storing fat in their tails for dry seasons.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Gestation is 27 days. The single joey spends 6 months inside the pouch. Under extreme threat, mothers can drop the joey to distract predators.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Vulnerable. Threatened on the mainland by invasive foxes and cats, though thriving on predator-free Rottnest Island.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Their 'smile' is actually an evolutionary adaptation: they open their mouths to pant and cool down.
- Quokkas can survive for long periods without drinking water, extracting moisture from the succulents they eat.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Quokka.
The Quokka is scientifically classified as Setonix brachyurus. It belongs to the genus Setonix within the family Macropodidae, class Mammalia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Quokkas inhabit Coastal scrublands, swampy forests, offshore islands. Their native geographic range primarily spans Southwestern Australia (Rottnest Island).
The Quokka is classified as a Herbivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Coastal scrublands, swampy forests, offshore islands.
A Quokka can achieve top speeds of 20 km/h (12 mph) and weighs approximately 2.5 - 5 kg (5.5 - 11 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 10 - 15 years.
The Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is currently designated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) Species Profile."
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