Mammal
Quokka
Setonix brachyurusAlso known as Short-tailed Wallaby
Quokkas are small, thick-furred marsupials known for their expressive faces, rounded ears, and compact build. Highly social nocturnal herbivores, they create tunnels through dense underbrush to travel safely between feeding sites and daytime resting spots. While famous for their dense population on Rottnest Island, small mainland groups survive in southern Western Australia where feral predator management is active.
NocturnalMarsupialEndemic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasses, leaves, stems, shrubs, succulent plants
Predators
- Feral Cat
- Red Fox
- Raptors
ThreatsFeral predators, bushfires, habitat degradation, climate change
HabitatsCoastal scrubland, dense heath, eucalyptus forests, swampy thickets
Life span10–15 years
Classification
- OrderDiprotodontia
- FamilyMacropodidae
- GenusSetonix
- SpeciesSetonix brachyurus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Generally docile, but can bite or scratch if cornered or handled; observe from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Cat-sized herbivore with dense grayish-brown fur, rounded ears, and a noticeably short, lightly haired tail.
- Support conservation
- Never feed or touch wild quokkas, and keep pets strictly off protected reserve lands.
Responsible observation
- Observe Passively: Watch them quietly from a reasonable distance without surrounding or trapping them.
- Never Feed: Human food causes dental disease and severe nutritional issues for wild populations.
- Keep Hands Away: Avoid petting or touching to prevent defensive bites and reduce animal stress.
Predator "Red Fox" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Simon Colenutt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Simon Colenutt · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Matthew Wakefield / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
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