Quokka is a unique marsupial animal living in Australia. Unfortunately, the animals are under threat of extinction, because of the people there are not so many.
Quokka - description
Kvokka is the only representative of a kind in the kangaroo family, therefore, outwardly resembles a thick kangaroo. The size of the animal is small - most often they do not grow larger than cats. The adult is 47-50 cm tall and weighs up to 5 kg.
A large family of kangaroos includes many species of animals that are fundamentally different from each other. Quokki have a very short tail - 35 cm, used as a support. The kangaroo’s tail is not just like that - it is an opportunity to protect oneself from predatory animals, but the Kwoks are not able to do this.
A small jumping animal is completely covered with a thick medium coat of a red or grayish-red color. Without hair, only the tail and the tips of the paws remain on the body of the quocca - in these areas the skin is dark, almost black. Powerful hind legs enable the animal to move in jumps at a speed of up to 50 km / h. The front legs are small and weak, they are needed so that the animal can eat. Quokka raises and holds their food. The animal includes grass, plant shoots, fruits and leaves.
Interesting fact: Kvokki are very curious animals, they are interested in communicating with people. However, despite the friendly appearance, they are not always worth ironing. Quocchi can accidentally pinch the jaw of their hand; they bite small children every year. Animals, of course, will not do irreparable harm, but the children will be scared, and the bruises on the skin will remain.
Quokki without wool are born, gradually overgrowing with thick gray-brown fur. The ears are round, located close to each other. Thanks to them, the look of the animal turns out to be slightly comical and cute. Together with a constant smile, a feeling of good nature is created. Small eye-buttons are located near the nose bridge. The animal has no fangs, leaves and stems bite off due to the impact of powerful jaws. They live in large families of up to 50 individuals.
Views
A unique animal, which is the only representative of its kind. The closest relative can be considered a wallaby, otherwise called a dwarf kangaroo, they are in an intermediate stage of development between ruminants and non-ruminants.
Rottnest Island, which is located 18 km from the western shores of Australia, is named after these lovely animals. Dutch sailors who discovered the island in the 18th century found hordes of amazing smiling animals, a bit like rats behind their tail. The name Rottnest, established in those years, is otherwise translated as “rat nest”.
Quocca Habitat
Quokka has historically spread throughout Australia, however, during human settlement on the mainland, their population rapidly declined. The reason for this is not poaching or industry, but animals brought from the mainland that hunted marsupials.
Kvokki creatures are defenseless, they can not stand up for predators for themselves, and in its habitat there have never been predatory animals, therefore the Kvokki are absolutely not adapted in this regard. The main enemies of the Kwokk at the moment are ordinary domestic cats and dogs brought by people.
Interesting fact: on the island of Rottnest, you should carefully handle the quoks, in no case should you violate the rules - a large fine will be issued. Least of all is fined only for feeding human food - 300 US dollars, if inflicted injury - 50 thousand US dollars, and for the murder faces real imprisonment for up to five years.
Now the animals live on small islands around Australia - in Balda, Rottnest and Penguin.Sometimes they can be found on the continent in Albany. Quokki prefer to live in dry grassy fields where there are dense shrubs.
Quokka - lifestyle and habitat
Quokki, looking like an otter, they are relatives of the kangaroo, run fast and jump well, developing a speed of up to 50 km / h.
If living conditions deteriorate sharply, then the Quocca begin to wander, moving to places that are not typical for them. In dry times, they switch to marshlands, where there is enough water and humidity for life. Quokki are nocturnal animals, they see well in the dark, they have a keen sense of smell and hearing. During the day, animals prefer to hide in the bushes without attracting attention.
Kvokkam inherent features in the field of reproduction. After mating games, two embryos appear immediately at the Kvokk, one of which is developing rapidly, and the second is in a state of pause. The animal is marsupial, therefore the offspring are hatched in a special pocket on the animal’s stomach.
The first baby after birth is in this bag for a long time. At the same moment, a second embryo begins to develop, which is born only at the moment when its predecessor leaves the mother's bag. Therefore, the female becomes pregnant twice after meeting with one male.
Interesting fact: Settonics also live in Australian zoos in the cities of Petra, Adelaide and Sydney. In open-air cages, animals often hide from people, so they are kept only in glass-closed cages with a ban on contact with visitors to zoos.
Kvokk enemies
Quokki are completely defenseless against predators; they have neither powerful tails, nor fangs with claws. They always live in large families, headed by a dominant male, who controls the external environment around the family’s temporary shelters. Quokki are kind, absolutely non-aggressive. They will not conflict with other animals that entered their territory.
The animals are trusting, love people and easily make contact. Quokki were listed in the Red Book in order to preserve their population. There really aren’t so many left - in Australia only 4 thousand kvokkliving in families of 50 individuals. For causing harm to animals, poachers are subject to heavy fines, even jail sentences are possible.
Interesting fact: a dingo dog that appeared on the islands 3.5 thousand years ago, as well as foxes, cats and dogs brought from other continents, greatly reduced the population of animals. Predators did not enter Rottnest only, where the animal population remained unchanged until the arrival of the person who had infested many viruses and infections.
Quokka and home maintenance
Kvokk start even in homes. However it is a wild animal and it does not fully adapt to living conditions with humans. Animals love warmth, they need to walk, so quokki will not take root in apartments. In addition, it is necessary to ensure constant access to fresh grass and shoots of young trees. It is forbidden to export kvokk outside Australia, so only local residents can have them. Life expectancy in other climatic conditions is reduced by halfTo torture an animal makes no sense. They are family animals, therefore they will not be able to live all alone all year round, hormonal disruptions will occur, the crook will begin to wither and die.
Nutrition
Quokki live in hard-leaved forests, feed on young shoots of eucalyptus, a variety of flowers, lots of roots, seeds and grass. All these plants have hard fibers, which the quokka gradually grinds with its jaws, this is a long process. Quokki amusingly champing. Food is swallowed, spitted back and chewed like chewing gum. At the end of the meal, the animal relaxes the jaw muscles and smiles radiantly at everyone.
Feeding animals get at night, moving among the grass.Quokki can climb to a small height of up to 1.5 meters, collecting young shoots of trees. The bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract kvokk resemble sheep bacteria. In a drought, animals wander to other lands for food and water. If the drought does not last so long, then the animal can extract water from succulents with juicy pulp. The closest relatives of Kvokk Wallaby are much less adapted to high temperatures, Kvokki can feel good at temperatures up to 440 degrees Celsius.
Quokka and the man
Kwokka was given the status of a species vulnerable to humans. If you do not take measures to preserve their population, then the animals will rapidly die out. Animals are well accustomed to artificial conditions, can easily breed in zoos and reserves. Some even live in people's homes.
Zoos offer visitors to pet and feed the crook. The cute face of the animals will not leave anyone indifferent, everyone wants to be photographed with them. With kvokki even arrange whole photo shoots.
Reproduction and longevity
Despite living in families, Kvokki love solitude. Communication between males and females is carried out only in the mating season. All the rest of the time is on its own. The family is controlled by the dominant male, which protects the shelter from intrusions of other animals.
The dominant male is the father of most of the cubs of the family. The remaining males get everyone who stays. There are no battles for power among the animals, when the leader is aging, he transfers his authority to the strongest.
The female can become pregnant in the first 28 days immediately after the start of mating, after the same period, the first baby is born, which matures for five months in the mother's bag, after its maturity, the second is born. He expects his birth another 28 days after the release of the first, and then goes into the mother's bag.
If there is not enough food, then the second baby may not be born at all. Quokki live a short life - up to 10 years, therefore puberty comes quickly - in females, not even a year of life passes.
Why is the crook smiling all the time?
Quokka is famous for its far from funny way of life and good nature, the small mammals listed in the Red Book are constantly smiling. This trademark smile and glorified animals throughout the world. It seems that the animal constantly admires everything that happens around, without losing optimism. Millions of tourists come to Australia annually to purchase or take pictures with a quokka.
The smile of the animal is nothing but the result of the relaxation of the jaw muscles after a long chewing of food. Animals feed on hard leaves of eucalyptus, chew them like chewing gum. You cannot feed animals with your food, for this you can get a big fine.
