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| − | {{honor_header|??|????|South Pacific Division<br>2001 Edition}} | + | {{Taxobox |
| − | ==1. Distinguish:== | + | | color = pink |
| − | ===a. Mammal from other animals.=== | + | | name = Quokka<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=69}}</ref> |
| − | The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, which in females produce milk for the nourishment of young. | + | | status = VU |
| | + | | 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]] |
| | + | | classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
| | + | | infraclassis = [[Marsupial]]ia |
| | + | | ordo = [[Diprotodontia]] |
| | + | | familia = [[Macropodidae]] |
| | + | | subfamilia = [[Macropodinae]] |
| | + | | genus = '''''Setonix''''' |
| | + | | genus_authority = [[René-Primevère Lesson|Lesson]], 1842 |
| | + | | species = '''''S. brachyurus''''' |
| | + | | binomial = ''Setonix brachyurus'' |
| | + | | binomial_authority = ([[Jean René Constant Quoy|Quoy]] & [[Joseph Paul Gaimard|Gaimard]], 1830) |
| | + | }} |
| | + | [[Image:Quokka - melbourne zoo.jpg|thumb|Quokka, Melbourne Zoo]] |
| | + | 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 [[Wallaby|wallabies]]), the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal. |
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| − | ===b. Placentals, marsupials and monotremes from one another.===
| + | 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. |
| − | ;Placentals: The placentals are distinguished from other mammals in that the fetus is nourished during pregnancy via a placenta.
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| − | ;Marsupials:Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium) in which it rears its young through early infancy. They differ from placental mammals in their reproductive traits. | + | 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. Interestingly, the Quokka actually recycles a small amount of their bodies' waste products |
| | | | |
| − | ;Monotremes: Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals.
| + | 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. |
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| − | ==2. Understand how marsupials are classified into families and describe, in a general way, the habits of these families.==
| + | 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. |
| − | Marsupials are classed mainly by their dietary habits.
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| − | ;Herbivorous marsupials: (such as kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, and possums) eat only plants.
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| − | ;Carnivorous marsupials: (such as tasmanian devils, numbats, and quolls) eat only meat. They are very similar to one another in shape, though their sizes vary considerably.
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| − | ;Omnivorous Marsupials: (such as opposums) eat just about anything they can find.
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| − | ==3. Describe the distribution, habitat (ie. type of country they live in), diet breeding behavior, as well as any other interesting information of twelve different groups of marsupials and monotremes.==
| + | 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". |
| − | <gallery>
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| − | Image:AwesomePossum-AmericanOpossum.jpg|Opossum
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| − | Image:Shrew opossum - Caenolestidae.png|Shrew Opossum
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| − | Image:Tasdevil large.jpg|Tasmanian Devil
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| − | Image:Numbat at Perth Zoo.jpg|Numbat
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| − | Image:SpottedQuoll 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|Quoll
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| − | Image:Kangaroo and joey03.jpg|Kangaroo
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| − | Image:Red-necked-Wallaby.jpg|Wallaby
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| − | Image:Brushtail possum.jpg|Possum
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| − | Image:Koala climbing tree.jpg|Koala
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| − | Image:Wombat at Lone Pine.jpg|Wombat
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| − | </gallery>
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| | | | |
| − | ===Opossums=== | + | ==References== |
| − | Opossums are nocturnal marsupials found in the Western Hemisphere. They are small to medium-sized creatures, about the size of a large house cat. Although there are many exceptions, most of them spend time living both in trees and on the ground, and they eat many different things (plants and animals).
| + | {{reflist}} |
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| − | Opossums are usually nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available. Though they will temporarily occupy abandoned burrows, they do not dig or put much effort into building their own. They favor dark, secure areas, below ground or above.
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| − | When threatened or harmed, they will "play possum", mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. The lips are drawn back, teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from glands. This response is involuntary, rather than a conscious act. Their stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away. Many injured opossums have been killed by well-meaning people who find a catatonic animal and assume the worst. If you find an injured or apparently dead opossum, the best thing to do is leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. In minutes or hours, the animal will regain consciousness and escape quietly on its own.
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| − | ===Shrew Opossums===
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| − | Shrew opossums (also known as rat opossums) are about the size of a small rat (9–14 cm long), with thin limbs, a long, pointed snout and a slender, hairy tail. They are largely meat-eaters, being active hunters of insects, earthworms and small vertebrates. They have small eyes and poor sight, and hunt in the early evening and at night, using their hearing and long, sensitive whiskers to locate prey. They seem to spend much of their lives in underground burrows and on surface runways.
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| − | Largely because of their rugged, inaccessible habitat, they are very poorly known and have traditionally been considered rare. Recent studies suggest that they may be more common than had been thought.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Tasmanian Devil===
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| − | ===Numbat===
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| − | ===Dunnart===
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| − | ===Quoll===
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| − | ===Kangaroos===
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| − | There are three species of kangaroo:
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| − | * The '''Red Kangaroo''' (Macropus rufus) is the largest surviving marsupial anywhere in the world. Fewer in numbers, the Red Kangaroos occupy the arid and semi-arid centre of the continent. A large male can be 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 90 kg (200 lb).
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| − | * The '''Eastern Grey Kangaroo''' (Macropus giganteus) is less well-known than the red (outside of Australia), but the most often seen, as its range covers the fertile eastern part of the continent.
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| − | * The '''Western Grey Kangaroo''' (Macropus fuliginosus) is slightly smaller again at about 54 kg (119 lb) for a large male. It is found in the southern part of Western Australia, South Australia near the coast, and the Darling River basin.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Wallabies===
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| − | | |
| − | Essentially, a wallaby is any macropod that isn't large enough to be considered a kangaroo and has not been given some other name. There is no fixed dividing line. In general, a wallaby is smaller and has a stockier build than a kangaroo; a wallaroo is any of a few species somewhat intermediate in size between a wallaby and a kangaroo.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Possums===
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| − | Possums are small marsupials with brown or grey fur, ranging in size from the length of a finger (pygmy possums and wrist-winged gliders), to the length of a forearm (brushtails and ringtails). All possums are nocturnal and omnivorous, hiding in a nest in a hollow tree during the day and coming out during the night to forage for food. They fill much the same role in the Australian ecosystem that squirrels fill in the northern hemisphere and are broadly similar in appearance.
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| − | The two most common species of possums, the Common Brushtail and Common Ringtail, are also among the largest.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Koalas===
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| − | The Koala is broadly similar in appearance to the wombat, but has a thicker, more luxurious coat, much larger ears, and longer limbs, which are equipped with large, sharp claws to assist with climbing. Weight varies from about 14 kg for a large, southern male, to about 5 kg for a small northern female. Contrary to popular belief, their fur is thick, not soft and cuddly. Koalas' five fingers per paw are arranged with the first two as opposable thumbs, providing better gripping ability.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Wombats===
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| − | Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately one meter (3 feet) in length and with a very short tail. Wombats have an extraordinarily slow metabolism, taking around 14 days to complete digestion, and generally move slowly. When required, however, they can reach up to 40 km/h and maintain that speed for up to 90 seconds.
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| − | When attacked, they can summon immense reserves of strength — one defense of a wombat against a predator (such as a Dingo) underground is to crush it against the roof of the tunnel until it stops breathing.
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| − | ==4. Be able to explain the difference between marsupial reproduction and that in true mammals (ie. placentals).==
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| − | The pregnant female marsupial develops a kind of yolk sack in her womb which delivers nutrients to the embryo. The embryo is born at a very early stage of development (at about 4-5 weeks), upon which it crawls up its mother's belly and attaches itself to a nipple (which is located inside the pouch). It remains attached to the nipple for a number of weeks. The offspring later passes through a stage where it temporarily leaves the pouch, returning for warmth and nourishment.
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| − | The placenta is a temporary organ composed of two parts, one of which is part of the fetus, the other part of the mother. It is implanted in the wall of the uterus, where it receives nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood and passes out waste. This interface forms a barrier, the placental barrier, which filters out some substances which could harm the fetus.
| + | ==External links== |
| | + | {{commons|Setonix brachyurus|Quokka}} |
| | + | *ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Setonix_brachyurus/ images and movies of the quokka ''(Setonix brachyurus)''] |
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| − | ==5. Explain the significance of the direction of opening of the pouch and the number of young per litter in marsupials.==
| + | [[Category:Macropods]] |
| − | ==6. Give an explanation of the unique occurrence of marsupials in Australia.==
| + | [[Category:Mammals of Australia]] |
| − | ==7. Be able to explain the need for conservation of our marsupials.==
| + | [[Category:Australian Aboriginal words and phrases]] |
| − | ==8. Write a report of your visit to a natural history museum, wild-life sanctuary, zoo, etc. indicating in about 10-15 lines, the extent of your observations.==
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| − | ==References==
| |
| | | | |
| − | [[Category:Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book|{{SUBPAGENAME}}]] | + | [[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]] |
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 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. Interestingly, the Quokka actually recycles a small amount of their bodies' waste products
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
Template:Commons
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
