Quokka Facts
The quokka is a small marsupial from southwestern Australia, a cat-sized relative of kangaroos that eats plants and is mostly active at night.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Setonix brachyurus
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN)
About the quokka
Quokkas live in a small corner of southwestern Australia, mainly on offshore islands such as Rottnest Island near Perth and Bald Island near Albany. Scattered groups also hold on in forest and coastal heath on the mainland. An adult weighs 2.5 to 5 kg and has a stocky body, rounded ears and a tail that is short for a macropod. It can even climb shrubs and small trees up to 1.5 m.
During the day, quokkas rest inside spiky Acanthocarpus preissii plants that hide and protect them. A female gives birth to a single joey after about a month of pregnancy, can breed twice a year, and raises around 17 young in her life. The joey stays in the pouch for 6 months and is fully weaned at about 8 months. Average lifespan is about 10 years.
Did you know?
- Rottnest Island got its name in 1696 when a Dutch explorer mistook quokkas for giant rats.
- The word quokka probably comes from the Noongar word gwaga or gawaga.
- No other living animal shares its genus, Setonix.
Questions about the quokka
Where do quokkas live?
Only in a small area of southwestern Australia, mostly on islands like Rottnest and Bald Island, plus scattered mainland pockets.
Are quokkas endangered?
Quokkas are listed as vulnerable.
Sources
- Wikidata Q726151, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Quokka, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.