Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Marsupials/Answer Key"

Revision as of 18:11, 27 February 2006

Template:Taxobox The Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a small macropod, about the size of a large domestic cat. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as the kangaroos and wallabies) the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.

In the wild, it is now restricted to a very small range in mainland south-western Western Australia, where it has become rare, and on two fox-free islands off the coast: Bald Island and Rottnest Island — which is its stronghold. On Rottnest it is common and occupies a wide range of habitats, ranging from semi-arid scrub to cultivated gardens.

Quokkas are the only member of the genus Setonix. They are 40 to 54 cm long with a 25 to 30 cm tail — which is rather short for a macropod. They have a stocky build, rounded ears, and a short, broad head. Although looking rather like a very small, dumpy kangaroo, they can climb small trees and shrubs. Their coarse fur is a grizzled brown colour, fading to buff underneath.

Quokkas are gregarious and gather in large groups where food is available: primary items are grasses, sedges, succulents and foliage. They breed at any time on the mainland, but in late summer on Rottnest. Restricted availability of the trace element copper appears to be a major limiting factor of the ability of Quokkas to breed on Rottnest.

Although numerous on the small offshore islands, they have a very restricted range and are classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where they must contend with introduced foxes, they require dense ground cover for refuge.

Quokka adult and child

de:Quokka eo:Kvokao fr:Quokka ja:クアッカワラビー属 nl:Quokka Human Impact Tourists feed Quokkas human food which is very bad bad for their health considering that they're herbivores and only eat roots, leaves, etc.

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-{{Taxobox begin | color = pink | name = Pademelons}}
+{{Taxobox
-{{Taxobox image | image = [[image:pademelon.jpg|200px]] | caption = }}
+| color = pink
-{{Taxobox begin placement | color = pink}}
+| name = Quokka
-{{Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
+| image = Rottnest Quokka 2004 SeanMcClean.jpg
-{{Taxobox subregnum entry | taxon = [[Chordata]]}}
+| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
-{{Taxobox classis entry | taxon = [[Mammal]]ia}}
+| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
-{{Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = [[Diprotodontia]]}}
+| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
-{{Taxobox familia entry | taxon = [[Macropodidae]]}}
+| subclassis = [[Marsupialia]]
-{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = '''''Thylogale'''''}}
+| ordo = [[Diprotodontia]]
-{{Taxobox end placement}}
+| familia = [[Macropodidae]]
-{{Taxobox section subdivision | color = pink | plural_taxon = [[Species]]}}
+| genus = ''[[Setonix]]''
-* ''[[Red-legged Pademelon|Thylogale stigmatica]]''
+| species = '''''S. brachyurus'''''
-* ''[[Red-necked Pademelon|Thylogale thetis]]''
+| binomial = ''Setonix brachyurus''
-* ''[[Dusky Pademelon|Thylogale brunii]]''
+| binomial_authority = Quoy & Gaimard, 1830
-* ''[[Red-bellied Pademelon|Thylogale billardierii]]''
+}}
-{{Taxobox end}}
+The '''Quokka''' (''Setonix brachyurus'') is a small [[macropod]], about the size of a large domestic cat. Like other [[marsupial]]s in the macropod family (such as the [[kangaroo]]s and [[wallabies]]) the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.
-A '''pademelon''' is any of four species of small, kangaroo-like creatures that are usually found in forests. Pademelons are the smallest of the [[macropod]]s.
+In the wild, it is now restricted to a very small range in mainland south-western [[Western Australia]], where it has become rare, and on two [[fox]]-free islands off the coast: [[Bald Island]] and [[Rottnest Island]] &#8212; which is its stronghold. On Rottnest it is common and occupies a wide range of habitats, ranging from semi-arid scrub to cultivated gardens.
-Pademelons, [[wallaby|wallabies]], and [[kangaroo]]s are all very alike in body structure, and the names just refer to the three different size groups. Originally wallabies were divided into small and large wallabies, but a more suitable name was needed to differentiate between them. The word "pademelon" is probably a corruption of their aboriginal name.
+Quokkas are the only member of the genus ''Setonix''. They are 40 to 54 [[centimeter|cm]] long with a 25 to 30 cm tail &#8212; which is rather short for a macropod. They have a stocky build, rounded ears, and a short, broad head. Although looking rather like a very small, dumpy kangaroo, they can climb small trees and shrubs. Their coarse fur is a grizzled brown colour, fading to buff underneath.
-Besides their smaller size, pademelons can be distinguished from wallabies by their shorter, thicker, and sparsely haired tails.
+Quokkas are gregarious and gather in large groups where food is available: primary items are [[Poaceae|grasses]], [[Cyperaceae|sedges]], [[Succulent plant|succulents]] and foliage. They breed at any time on the mainland, but in late summer on Rottnest.  Restricted availability of the [[Micromineral|trace element]] [[copper]] appears to be a major limiting factor of the ability of Quokkas to breed on Rottnest.
-==Distribution and habitat==
+Although numerous on the small offshore islands, they have a very restricted range and are classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where they must contend with introduced foxes, they require dense ground cover for refuge.
-[[Red-necked Pademelon]]s can be found in the coastal regions of [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]]. In some places their range has been drastically reduced. [[Red-legged Pademelon]]s can also be found in south-central [[New Guinea]]. [[Image:Tasmanian-pademelon-eating-apple.jpg|thumb|right|Tasmanian pademelon eating a slice of apple, with her joyey]][[Image:Tasmanian-pademelons-at-dusk.jpg|thumb|left|Tasmanian pademelons in Narawntapu National Park. The couple on the back is about to mate.]]The Red-bellied or Tasmanian Pademelon is abundant in [[Tasmania]]. The Dusky Pademelon lives in [[Papua New Guinea]] and surrounding islands.
+[[Image:Quokka-Raffi Kojian-CIMG6317.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Quokka adult and child]]
-The natural habitat of the pademelon is in thick scrubland or dense forested undergrowth. They also make tunnels through long grasses and bushes in swampy country.
+[[Category:Macropods]]
+[[Category:Australian animals]]
-==Diet and behavior==
-[[Image:Female-pademelon-with-sweet-threequarter.jpg|thumb|right|Female pademelon (notice the full pouch) eating a slice of sweet potato on a small private reserve near Port Douglas, in Queensland]]If there are no predators, such as dogs, they graze in the early mornings or evenings on grassy slopes near thickets, into which they can quickly escape at the first sign of danger. Having noticed danger, such as a [[python]], they may try to warn others by stomping their feet on the ground producing surprisingly loud sound. Pademelons are nocturnal and tend to feed at night.
-Their main diet is made up of grasses, leaves, and small shoots. They do little damage to crops and are not as aggressive as wallabies and kangaroos can be, making them gentle pets.
-Normally, a group of females would stay on the territory with males showing up, only when one of the females is ready for mating. This is in contrast to the behavior of bigger kangaroos, who stay in mixed mobs with a male leader.
-==Problems faced==
-Pademelon meat used to be considered valuable, and was eaten by settlers and aborigines for a long time. It was once even suggested that they be introduced to France as a meat supply. Although their (like all kangaroos') meat is very low in fat and cholesterol, Australians today would consider it no more than "second grade" and strongly prefer lamb and beef instead.
-Aside from being killed for their meat and soft fur, their numbers have been reduced by the introduction of predators such as feral cats, dogs, and foxes. The [[rabbit (ecology)|rabbit]] explosion has also caused problems, as rabbits graze on the same grasses making less available for the pademelon. Also, people clearing the land to make room for homes has pushed the larger wallabies and kangaroos into the land that the pademelons had been thriving in for so long.
-Tasmanian Pademelons were important to the [[Thylacine]]'s diet, and are still preyed on by [[quoll]]s, [[Tasmanian Devil]]s, [[Python]]s, and [[Wedge-tailed Eagle]]s. Despite these predators, there are many in Tasmania and its outlying smaller islands, and every year many are killed off to keep their numbers down.
-==Conservation status==
-* [[Red-legged Pademelon]] (''Thylogale stigmatica'') - vulnerable
+[[de:Quokka]]
-* [[Red-necked Pademelon]] (''Thylogale thetis'') - common
+[[eo:Kvokao]]
-* [[Dusky Pademelon]] (''Thylogale brunii'') - vulnerable
+[[fr:Quokka]]
-* Tasmanian or [[Red-bellied Pademelon]] (''Thylogale billardierii'') - partially protected
+[[ja:クアッカワラビー属]]
+[[nl:Quokka]]
-[[de:Filander]]
+Human Impact
-[[ja:&#12516;&#12502;&#12527;&#12521;&#12499;&#12540;&#23646;]]
+Tourists feed Quokkas human food which is very bad bad for their health considering that they're herbivores and only eat roots, leaves, etc.
-[[category:Macropods]]
-[[Category:Australian animals]]