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

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Quokka, Melbourne Zoo

The Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a small marsupial, 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 cat- and fox-free islands off the coast of that area, Bald Island and Rottnest Island, which are its stronghold. On Rottnest it is common and occupies a wide range of habitats, ranging from semi-arid scrub to cultivated gardens.

The Quokka is the only member of the genus Setonix. It weighs 2.5 to 5 kg and is 40 to 54 cm long with a 25 to 30 cm tail — which is rather short for a macropod. It has a stocky build, rounded ears, and a short, broad head. Although looking rather like a very small, dumpy kangaroo, it can climb small trees and shrubs. Its coarse fur is a grizzled brown colour, fading to buff underneath.

The Quokka is gregarious and gathers in large groups where food is available: primary items are grasses, sedges, succulents and foliage. The health of some animals has suffered significantly by the ingestion of inappropriate foods, such as bread, given by well meaning visitors to Rottnest Island. Visitors are now asked to refrain from feeding them. It breeds at any time on the mainland, but in late summer on Rottnest. The Quokka only produces a single joey in a year. Restricted availability of the trace element copper appears to be a major limiting factor of the ability of the Quokka to breed on Rottnest.

Although numerous on the small offshore islands, it has a very restricted range and is classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where it is threatened by introduced predatory species such as foxes, it requires dense ground cover for refuge.

The Quokka was one of the first Australian mammals seen by Europeans. The Dutch mariner Samuel Volckertzoon wrote of sighting "a wild cat" on Rottnest Island in 1658. In 1696 Willem de Vlamingh mistook them for rats and named the island "Rottenest", Dutch for "rat nest".

References

External links

ARKive - images and movies of the quokka (Setonix brachyurus)

cs:Klokan quokka de:Quokka eo:Kvokao fr:Quokka gl:Quokka nl:Quokka ja:クアッカワラビー属 pl:Kuoka

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Taxobox
 | color = pink
-| name = Pademelons<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=69-70}}</ref>
+| name = Quokka<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=69}}</ref>
-| image = pademelon.jpg
+| status = VU
-| image_width = 200px
+| trend = down
+| status_system = iucn2.3
+| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{IUCN2006 | assessors = Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group | year = 1996 | id = 20165 | title = Setonix brachyurus | downloaded = 6 May 2006}}</ref>
+| image = Rottnest Quokka 2004 SeanMcClean.jpg
 | regnum = [[Animal]]ia
 | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 14: @@
 | familia = [[Macropodidae]]
 | subfamilia = [[Macropodinae]]
-| genus = '''''Thylogale'''''
+| genus = '''''Setonix'''''
-| genus_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1837
+| genus_authority = [[René-Primevère Lesson|Lesson]], 1842
-| type_species = ''[[Red-necked Pademelon|Halmaturus (Thylogale) eugenii]]''
+| species = '''''S. brachyurus'''''
-| type_species_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1837<br>(= ''Halmaturus thetis'' [[René-Primevère Lesson|Lesson]], 1828)
+| binomial = ''Setonix brachyurus''
-| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
+| binomial_authority = ([[Jean René Constant Quoy|Quoy]] & [[Joseph Paul Gaimard|Gaimard]], 1830)
-| subdivision =
-* ''[[Tasmanian Pademelon|Thylogale billardierii]]''
-* ''[[Brown's Pademelon|Thylogale browni]]''
-* ''[[Duskky Pademelon|Thylogale brunii]]''
-* ''[[Calaby's Pademelon|Thylogale calabyi]]''
-* ''[[Mountain Pademelon|Thylogale lanatus]]''
-* ''[[Red-legged Pademelon|Thylogale stigmatica]]''
-* ''[[Red-necked Pademelon|Thylogale thetis]]''
 }}
+[[Image:Quokka - melbourne zoo.jpg|thumb|Quokka, Melbourne Zoo]]
+The '''Quokka''' (''Setonix brachyurus'') is a small [[marsupial]], about the size of a large domestic cat. Like other [[marsupial]]s in the macropod family (such as the [[kangaroo]]s and [[Wallaby|wallabies]]), the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.
-A '''pademelon''' is any of seven species of small, [[kangaroo]]-like creatures that are usually found in forests. Pademelons are the smallest of the [[macropod]]s. The name is a corruption of ''badimaliyan'', from the [[Dharuk]] [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] language of [[Port Jackson]].
+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 cat- and [[fox]]-free islands off the coast of that area, [[Bald Island]] and [[Rottnest Island]], which are 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 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 Quokka is the only member of the genus '''''Setonix'''''. It weighs 2.5 to 5 kg and is 40 to 54 cm long with a 25 to 30 cm tail &mdash; which is rather short for a macropod. It has a stocky build, rounded ears, and a short, broad head. Although looking rather like a very small, dumpy kangaroo, it can climb small trees and shrubs. Its 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.
+The Quokka is gregarious and gathers in large groups where food is available: primary items are [[Poaceae|grasses]], [[Cyperaceae|sedges]], [[Succulent plant|succulents]] and foliage. The health of some animals has suffered significantly by the ingestion of inappropriate foods, such as bread, given by well meaning visitors to Rottnest Island. Visitors are now asked to refrain from feeding them. It breeds at any time on the mainland, but in late summer on Rottnest. The Quokka only produces a single [[joey (marsupial)|joey]] in a year. Restricted availability of the [[Micromineral|trace element]] [[copper]] appears to be a major limiting factor of the ability of the Quokka to breed on Rottnest.
-==Distribution and habitat==
+Although numerous on the small offshore islands, it has a very restricted range and is classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where it is threatened by introduced predatory species such as foxes, it requires dense ground cover for refuge.
-[[Image:Tasmanian-pademelons-at-dusk.jpg|thumb|left|Tasmanian pademelons in Narawntapu National Park. The pair at the back are about to mate.]]
-[[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]]. The Red-bellied or Tasmanian Pademelon is abundant in [[Tasmania]]. The Dusky Pademelon lives in [[Papua New Guinea]] and surrounding islands. It was previously called the Aru Island Wallaby. Before that, it was called the Filander. This name occurred in a translation of [[C. de Bruyns Travels]] published in [[1737]].
-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.
+The Quokka was one of the first Australian mammals seen by Europeans. The Dutch mariner Samuel Volckertzoon wrote of sighting "a wild cat" on Rottnest Island in 1658. In 1696 [[Willem de Vlamingh]] mistook them for rats and named the island "Rottenest", Dutch for "rat nest".
-==Diet and behavior==
-[[Image:Tasmanian-pademelon-eating-apple.jpg|thumb|right|Tasmanian pademelon eating a slice of apple, with her joey]]
-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==
-[[Image:Female-pademelon-with-sweet-threequarter.jpg|thumb|right|Female (notice the full pouch) red-legged pademelon eating a slice of [[sweet potato]] on a small private reserve near [[Port Douglas, Queensland]]]]
-Pademelon meat used to be considered valuable and was eaten by settlers and aborigines for a long time. It was once suggested that they be introduced to France as a meat supply{{Fact|date=March 2007}}. Although their meat is very low in fat and cholesterol (like that of all kangaroos), Australians today would consider it no more than "second grade" and strongly prefer lamb and beef instead{{Fact|date=March 2007}}.
-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, clearing of land for homes has pushed the larger wallabies and kangaroos into land that pademelons had been thriving in for so long.
-In recent years, marsupial enthusiast Dan Golden have worked to preserve the pademelon. Due to his efforts, the most recent species, the Golden's Pademelon, discovered in 2000, was named after him. Dr. Golden has also worked to save the koalas and wombats and has a cross-breeding program to successfully develop a cross between a platypus and a hedgehog, which he calls a "hedgypuss".
-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.
-==Species==
-* '''Genus ''Thylogale'''''<ref name=msw3/>
-** [[Tasmanian Pademelon]], ''Thylogale billardierii''
-** [[Brown's Pademelon]], ''Thylogale browni''
-** [[Dusky Pademelon]], ''Thylogale brunii''
-** [[Calaby's Pademelon]], ''Thylogale calabyi''
-** [[Mountain Pademelon]], ''Thylogale lanatus''
-** [[Red-legged Pademelon]], ''Thylogale stigmatica''
-** [[Red-necked Pademelon]], ''Thylogale thetis''
-** [[Golden's Dwarf Pademelon]], ''Thylogale daniellsson goldanius''
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-{{1911}}
+==External links==
+*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Setonix_brachyurus/ images and movies of the quokka ''(Setonix brachyurus)'']
 [[Category:Macropods]]
@@ Line 77: / Line 43: @@
 [[Category:Australian Aboriginal words and phrases]]
-[[de:Filander]]
+[[cs:Klokan quokka]]
-[[fr:Thylogale]]
+[[de:Quokka]]
-[[lt:Filanderiai]]
+[[eo:Kvokao]]
-[[nl:Pademelons]]
+[[fr:Quokka]]
-[[ja:ヤブワラビー属]]
+[[gl:Quokka]]
+[[nl:Quokka]]
+[[ja:クアッカワラビー属]]
+[[pl:Kuoka]]