Let me introduce the happiest animal on Earth.
The Short-tailed Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a close relative of kangaroos. Gray-red, round animals
This little kangaroo belongs to the species Setonix brachyurus. It is a diprotodont marsupial that belongs to the Macropodidae family – kangaroos and the order Diprotodontia – bicuspid.
Bicubontine is the order of marsupials found in Oceania. This government is characterized by a great variety of species. These include the kangaroo, koala, couscous, or small-sized palmate.
On the other hand, one of the interesting features of this order is that the species has two incisors in the jaw. Moreover, given that its origin begins in the Oligocene, its evolutionary history reflects a tremendous adaptation to successive changes. This is what caused so much biodiversity within this order.
Classification
They are different levels of the quokka’s scientific family. Here is a full breakdown:
• Class: Mammalia (mammals)
• Infraclass: Marsupialia (pouched mammals)
• Order: Diprotodontia (a specific order of pouched mammals)
• Family: Macropodidae (pouched mammals living in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea)
• Genus: Setonix (quokkas)
Habitat
Quokkas can only be found in Western Australia and on the islands of Rottnest and Bland. Quokkas live in trees, shrubs, swamps, and other areas with dense vegetation. They do not like the exposure of wide and open spaces. They prefer environments where they can hide from predators or take shelter from the elements when necessary.
First record
The first record that was archived about the quokka dates back to 1658. The animal has been described as “a cat similar to the Agile cat, but with a brown shade”. A few decades later, they were observed again and described as “a kind of rat, but the size of a cat” . The island of Rottnest owes its name to Quokkas – the Dutch who came here in 1696 thought that Quokkas is a huge variety of rat and named the island Rotte nest (from the Dutch rattennest) – the rat’s nest.
Eating habits
are mainly limited to eating plants. This herbivorous animal, however, has its favorite foods in the form of leaves and stems. However, the diet of Quokkas varies depending on the region they are in and the current season.
Protected status
In 1996, this animal was included in the list of “fauna that is rare or close to extinction”. The inclusion of the quokka in this group was due to various threats. These include, inter alia, a reduction in its geographical distribution, a reduction in population numbers and serious predator threats.
Loss of habitat and food diversity are other important risk factors for this happy species. Its extinction has been reported in the forests of Australia due to a reduction in the variety of foods naturally found in their diets.
In 2013, a species recovery plan was implemented that considers various threats. It covers a wide range of controls, from monitoring predators such as foxes or wild cats to monitoring the effects of climate change, habitat loss or various diseases.
There has now been a decline in the quokka population, and it is estimated that there are between 7,500 and 15,000 adults in total. Therefore, the IUCN has classified the quokka in the “vulnerable” species category.
** INTERESTING FACTS**
- Known as the “world’s happiest animal” for their smile . Quokkas are playful, adorable and known for being cute as a button, which has recently landed them the title of ‘world’s happiest animal.
- These small creatures are covered with short, fluffy brown-grey fur, have little round ears, small black noses, and the most contagious and photoshoot-ready smiles.
- Quokkas do not need a lot of water to survive.
- Quokka can only be found in the tropical forests of south-west Australia – in the mainland and on the islands of Rottnest and Bald. Their largest population is precisely on the islands.
- These marsupials reach a length of up to half a meter and weigh 3.4 kilograms. They have long and thick brown fur.
- They look like miniature kangaroos.
- They are most active at night, but they can also be found during the day, as evidenced by the thousands of photos that tourists take with Quokkas
- The dense fur of the Quokka is fairly coarse and usually brown or grey in color, with reddish tinges around the face and neck, and generally lighter in color on the underside. Along with its rounded body, the Quokka also has small and rounded ears, and a rounded snout that is tipped with a black nose.
- They are bold with people. They behave like purebred models – they have smiling faces when posing for selfies.
- Formally, the Quokkas are under protection, they must not be fed or touched. There is a fine of AU $ 300 for interactions with the marsupial
- Quokkas live in colonies, but they do not really socialize with one another. For example, they do not groom or play together. They live solitary lives that just so happen to intersect for food and safety reasons.
- European travelers discovered the quokka in the mid-17th century. The Dutch captain who first described it, Willem de Vlamingh, mistook it for huge rats. He called the island where he met intriguing creatures Rotte nest.
- A quokka weighs roughly anywhere from 2.5 to 5 kilograms (which is equal to 5.5 to 11 pounds) and is believed to be 40 to 54 centimeters in length (or 16 to 21 inches), plus a tail of almost 12 inches long.
- Unlike furry feline friends, you unfortunately cannot keep quokkas as pets.
- Quokkas are smart and will do anything for food, even learning tricks to get tourists to feed them.
- Although tourists like quokkas many locals that must live with them do not. Quokkas are bold and will enter buildings such as homes and restaurants.
- Quokkas have sharp teeth and will shriek if cornered or attacked or if they feel threatened or provoked.
- The quokkas lack of fear of humans and the small size of their natural habitat makes them vulnerable to becoming endangered as a species.
- Quokka can to hop through the thick vegetation and tall grasses with immense speed.
- They give birth to only one child each – the pregnancy of such a quokka is short, about a month. After birth, babies stay in their mother’s bag for up to six months.
- Quokkas are a part of the kangaroo and wallaby family also known as the Macropodidae. Interestingly enough, these adorable furry friends share similar characteristics to kangaroos, including the fact that they like to hop around and carry their offspring in a front pouch. They are often referenced as the short-tailed wallabies too.
- Quokkas are known for their rapid reproduction rates. They mature quickly and can give birth twice per year, so in a 10-year lifespan, they might produce anywhere from 15 – 17 babies.
- Groups of quokkas live in territories, which are defended by dominant males. They are often live-in tall grass near water sources. Quokkas can also climb trees!
- Studies have shown that the average life expectancy of the quokkas in the wild is 10 to 15 years.
- Quokkas are herbivores who primarily feed at night, meaning they are mainly nocturnal. They eat the leaves, stems, and bark of many plants in addition to grass. If necessary, they can survive for long periods of time without food or water by living off the fat stored in their tails.
- Quokkas are nocturnal and spend their day sleeping and resting behind the protection of plants’ spikes. In the evenings, quokkas can be found out and about and are much more active.
- These creatures love to climb small trees and shrubs in search of their next meal, and to rest. They are often found in tall grass near water and in small family groups.
- On the mainland, quokkas can breed all year round, but on Rottnest Island they only breed from January to August. After a month of gestation, the female gives birth to a baby called a joey. Females can give birth twice a year.
- For some, quokka can be a difficult word to say. North Americans tend to pronounce these creatures’ names as “kwo-ka” but locals of Australia favor “kwah-ka.”
- Quokkas do not tend to fight with their own over food or mates and are generally peaceful in their groups.
- Quokkas tend to eat bark, grass, stems, and leaves. The first time they consume food they swallow it whole. Then they regurgitate the food and eat it again. This allows them to extract more nutrition.
- Quokka is not known to be territorial with up 150 individuals known to have over-lapping home ranges.
- Quokkas have one baby at a time. Since they are a mammalian species, it is a live birth, and the baby will require milk after it is born.
- Studies have shown that quokkas can carry salmonella in their feces, but it is never infected anyone in Australia.
- Despite their sweet and friendly nature, quokkas have a survival instinct that is pretty nasty: If a mother is being pursued by a predator, she will sacrifice her baby to save herself. She will not actually throw it, but she will eject it from her pouch by relaxing her pouch muscles, causing the baby to drop out. The baby will flail on the ground and make noise that attracts the predator.
- Like kangaroos, baby quokkas have also been given the name ‘joeys.
- The joey lives in its mother’s pouch for six months. Once it leaves the pouch, the joey relies on its mother for milk for two more months. At 1.5 years old, quokkas are old enough to have their own babies. In the wild, quokkas can live up to ten years.
- Male quokkas usually weigh about 5 – 10 pounds. Females are slightly smaller at 3 – 8 pounds.
- Quokkas are Marsupial. The word “marsupial” comes from marsupium, which means “abdominal pouch,” and quokkas have these just like kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, possums, and koalas.
- Quokkas are vulnerable to cats, dogs, foxes, dingoes, and snakes. Their natural predators are birds of prey and dingoes, but the rest have been introduced to their environment over time.
- In recent years, #QuokkaSelfies have been an extremely popular trend on social media.
- At night, the Quokka begins to browse for food using tunnels through the long, grasses to move about unseen.
- The biggest threat to quokkas is deforestation. Humans are tearing down trees to build cities; weather changes are having ripple effects on vegetation, erosion, and rainfall.
- Quokkas are believed to be one of the first mammals in Australia to be seen by Europeans
- Quokkas have the ability to swim, but you will not find them doing the butterfly stroke very often.
- They spend most of their time in trees and shrubs, and their primary home, Rottnest Island, can go long months without rainfall.
- Quokkas love to climb trees! They can ascend as high as 4 – 6 feet, which is rather good for their size.
- If they are cornered, quokkas will fight tooth and nail for survival. They can bite with their teeth and scratch with their claws, and their powerful hind legs are good for kicking.
- Baby quokkas are miniature versions of their parents, and they ride around in their mother’s pouch until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
- Quokkas can have a bit of a mean streak to them. They are not afraid to bite when they are feeling threatened. And they have powerful hind legs that can be used for kicking just as easily as hopping.
- When faced with a predator, the quokka’s first instinct is to run away. They can hop at high speeds for their size, and they can dive into burrows and scurry up branches to try and lose their pursuers.
- The IUCN estimates that there are between 7,500 – 15,000 mature adults in the wild. The vast majority is on Rottnest Island.
- There is no evidence to suggest that quokkas mate for life, but they have been known to return to the same mates for several breeding cycles in a row, so they are not opposed to monogamy.
- Quokkas do not make a lot of noise. They do not have calls or songs to communicate with others of their kind, and they do not growl when they are threatened.
- At six months, the joey will be encouraged to leave the safety of the pouch. It will start to wean itself off mom’s milk as it learns how to forage for food.
- At 10 – 12 months, the joey will be considered independent, and it will not rely on mom at all anymore. It might stay close as part of a colony, but it will be a mature and solitary adult.
- Quokka family units are most commonly found in areas close to one another, where there is a decent source of fresh water.
- Quokka creates tunnels that they use as runways through the dense vegetation, which they are then able to hop extremely fast along when threatened by a predator.
- A Quokka can travel at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
