Quokkas

Mini Kangaroos

• Quokkas are a type of kangaroo
• Quokkas have pouches like kangaroos
• Quokkas jump on their hind legs like kangaroos
• One of the only differences between Quokkas and kangaroos is their size

Physical Characteristics

• Quokkas height is 40--50 cm
• Quokkas weigh about 5.5--11 pounds
• Quokkas' tail length is about 25--30 cm long
• Quokkas appear to be smiling, but it is the bone structure of their mouth
• Quokkas are macropods, plant-eating marsupial mammals

Where do Quokkas Live?

• Quokkas live on Rottnest Island off the southwest coast of Australia

About Rottnest Island

• The area of Rottnest Island is 7.336 square miles
• Rottnest Island gets the most rain in June and July

Interaction with Quokkas

• About 500,000 people visit Rottnest Island each year
• In the early 1650's Dutch explorers mistook quokkas for large rats
• It is illegal to handle or feed a quokka in any way; if you do, you will get a $300 fine

Quokkas Facing Problems

• Quokkas are vulnerable to extinction
• There is not enough water on Rottnest Island, so people are finding quokka skulls everywhere
• There are about 10,000---12,000 quokkas left on Rottnest Island
• Quokkas have lost 50% of their habitat in the last 200 years

Little Rascals

• Quokkas are cute but very sneaky
• Quokkas will get food by being cute and begging

Diet

• Quokkas are herbivores and primarily eat at night
• Quokkas are mainly nocturnal but have adapted to staying awake so they can get scraps from the tourists
• Quokkas mainly eat Guichenotia Ledifolia, a small shrub
• Quokkas eat leaves stems and bark off of trees but don’t eat grass

Quokkas Eat Their Food Twice

• Quokkas rip the vegetation out of their food and stuff it into their mouth and swallow
• This isn't a good way of breaking down food
• So quokkas regurgitate their food and eat it again

Quokka Mothers Sacrifice Their Babies

• When threatened, the mothers will pull out their babies and throw them to the ground and run away the baby will die and the mother will know that she can always have another one

Summary

• Today I talked about quaokkas, mini kangaroos, physical characteristics, interaction with quokkas, quokkas facing problems, little rascals, where quokkas live, quokkas eat their food twice, and quokka mothers sacrifice their babies

Sources

• https://www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/library/field/quokka....
• https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/quokka-selfies-australia-golf-t...
• Quokka

Sources continued

• http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-17/quokkas-rottnest-island-smile-but-isl...

Questions

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