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What the sources say

QuokkaSetonix brachyurus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Quokka profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 59 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Setonix brachyurus (quokka). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA Western Australian wallaby
The source saysOn the southwestern coast of Western Australia, several isolated mainland populations of Setonix brachyurus ... is among the smallest wallabiesNote: final review: was 'A Rottnest Island marsupial'; DBCA and ADW place populations on the mainland and Bald Island too
The page saysno fear of tourists
The source saysSince they are such a friendly species, unafraid of humans
The page saysfox- and cat-free Rottnest and Bald Islands
The source saysexotic predators such as foxes and cats ... The adjacent islands of Rottnest Island and Bald Island do not have these predators and are home to larger populations.
The page saysGrasses, sedges, succulents
The source sayssucculents, shrubs, forbs, grasses and sedges
The page saysmay help it spot predators
The source saysThis is likely to help the species spot their predators.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web says colour vision likely helps quokkas spot predators.
The source saysquokkas have color vision. This is likely to help the species spot their predators.
The page saysQuokkas are among the smallest wallabies
The source saysSetonix brachyurus is among the smallest wallabies
The page saysa quokka brings its food back up to chew as cud
The source saysQuokkas do not chew their food, but rather they swallow it, regurgitate it and chew the cud.
The page saysThe leaves hold enough water that a quokka doesn't need to drink much
The source saysThe majority of their herbivore diet comprises of plants including succulents, shrubs, forbs, grasses and sedges. These leaves contain water so quokkas do not need to drink a lot throughout the year.
The page saysA joey is born after a pregnancy of about a month and spends roughly six months in its mother's pouch
The source saysThe gestation period is approximately one month, and after birth the joey moves to its mother's pouch. This is where it stays for six months for protection and food
The page saysIts mother can already be carrying a second, dormant embryo in reserve, suspended for about five months: it starts developing if the first joey dies, and disintegrates if the joey survives
The source saysAfter giving birth, the mother mates again and embryonic diapause occurs. This new embryo remains dormant for approximately five months, when the body can detect if the first joey had survived or not. If the young dies, the embryo implants and develops, and if the joey is alive, the embryo disintegrates.
The page saysRottnest has no foxes or cats
The source saysexotic predators such as foxes and cats ... The adjacent islands of Rottnest Island and Bald Island do not have these predators
The page saysthe only species in its genus, Setonix
The source saysThis species is the only member in its genus.
The page saysA small, nocturnal wallaby
The source saysSetonix brachyurus is among the smallest wallabies
The page saysnocturnal
The source saysThis species is nocturnal, feeding at night and resting during the day
The page saysthe family Macropodidae
The source saysFamily Macropodidae kangaroos, wallabies, and relatives
The page saysa female quokka carries her joey in a pouch, in the quokka's case for about six months after birth
The source saysafter birth the joey moves to its mother's pouch. This is where it stays for six months for protection and food
The page saysQuokkas are a vulnerable species with a fragile population, and keeping one as a pet isn't an option
The source saysDue to their fragile population size, they cannot be taken in as pets.
The page saysthey're unafraid of humans, and Animal Diversity Web notes that people sometimes feed them food that actually harms them
The source saysSince they are such a friendly species, unafraid of humans, people sometimes feed them foods that are harmful.

Source
02

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Quokka. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysa permanent grin
The source saysis surpassed only by its perpetual "smile."Note: reviewer: the look, not an expression; FAQ 2 explains it
The page saysswampy forest
The source saysmainland quokkas use dense vegetation in swamps amidst dry sclerophyll forest
The page sayswattle (Acacia) leaves
The source saysthe leaves of Acacia trees, called the wattles in Australia
The page saysBolt Down the Runways
The source saysIts frequently used paths serve as runways to escape predators.Note: final review: was 'Running Is the Whole Plan'; SDZWA says the strategy is to avoid conflict first, then flee
The page saysno formidable bite, kick, or stench to put off a predator
The source saysLacking a formidable bite, kick, or stench, the quokka instead quickly bolts down trodden paths through thick grasses to avoid predators.
The page saysThick grass and shrubland are laced with the trodden paths a quokka uses to escape
The source saysthey opt for swift flight through dense grasses and shrubs. They shelter by day in areas with thick vegetation. Nighttime travel creates trails that are used as "roads" for feeding and fleeing.
The page saysit bolts down one, hopping on its hind legs
The source saysIn a mad dash, it hops on its hind legs.
The page saysIts natural predators are dingoes and birds of prey
The source saysNatural predators of quokkas are dingoes and birds of prey
The page saysthe red fox, which reached southwest Western Australia in the early 1930s
The source sayssuffered severe declines after the red fox arrived in the southwest of Western Australia in early 1930s
The page saysmade short work of mainland quokkas in many areas
The source saysThe quokka was common in coastal parts of the mainland of southwestern Australia until the 1930s, when the red fox Vulpes vulpes was introduced. This voracious hunter made short order of the quokka in many areas.
The page saysOne modelling study found that quokkas would thrive alongside dingoes: the dingo suppresses the introduced fox through competition, direct killing or fear, dropping the total predation pressure on quokkas even with two predators present
The source saysAccording to mathematical models, conservation researchers found that quokkas would thrive alongside the dingo, a native apex predator, as its presence suppresses the nonnative red fox through competition, direct killing, or fear-induced behaviors. "Even if both predators target the same prey, the total intensity of predation is reduced in the presence of the apex predator," they write.
The page saysdigesting rather like a sheep: most of the fifteen or so types of bacteria in their stomach resemble those in a sheep's rumen
The source saysIts ruminant-like digestive system resembles that of sheep: most of the 15 or so morphological types of bacteria present in the large stomach region of the quokka are similar to those in the rumen of sheep
The page saysThey can survive extended stretches without food or water when supplies run low
The source saysthey can survive extended periods without food or water, perhaps an offshoot of seasonal variation and availability of food
The page saysstore fat in their tails for backup
The source saysQuokkas can store fat in their tails and use it when food is scarce.
The page saysthen keeps nursing for about six months more
The source saysIt will stay in the pouch for about 6 months. Joeys emerge from the pouch, but continue to nurse another 6 months or so.Note: final review: was ADW's 'until it is weaned', which contradicts ADW's own weaning age of 8 months and SDZWA's extra six months of nursing
The page saysA quokka lives about 10 years.
The source saysLife Span About 10 years
The page saysIn 1696, the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh spotted quokkas on an island near Perth, mistook them for oversized rats, and named the place Rattennest, Dutch for "rat's nest." It later became Rottnest Island
The source saysThey are more numerous on Rottnest Island, near Perth ... Mistaking this pint-sized marsupial for an oversized rat, in 1696, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh named the island "Rattennest," meaning "Rat's Nest" in his mother tongue. It was later modified to Rottnest Island.
The page saysso it holds the biggest quokka population
The source saysthe foxes did not make it to Rottnest Island, so quokkas are more plentiful there ... it is perhaps no surprise that the largest quokka population is on Rottnest Island
The page saysits quokkas appear to shed their nocturnal habits and mix freely with visitors
The source saysHere, quokka appear to shed their nocturnal lifestyle and readily mix and mingle with visitors.
The page saysthe global population today sits at roughly 7,500 to 15,000 mature quokkas
The source sayscurrently hovers around 7,500 to 15,000 mature individuals worldwide.
The page saysabout the size of a house cat
The source saysAbout the size of a house cat
The page saysMostly teeth and muscle
The source saysthe quokka's grin is largely due to its facial muscles and protruding front teeth
The page saysthe look is largely down to a quokka's facial muscles and protruding front teeth, not the person waving a selfie stick at it
The source saysthe quokka's grin is largely due to its facial muscles and protruding front teeth, not the person on the ground waving around a selfie stick
The page saysAdd its friendly, curious nature around people
The source saysThe quokka's friendly, curious personality (even toward humans)
The page saysthe quokka selfie became an Australian trend
The source saystrying to get a #quokkaselfie, which is trending in Australia

Source
03

Burbidge & Woinarski 2025

Burbidge & Woinarski (2025). Setonix brachyurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T20165A258663635.

The page saysIUCN lists Setonix brachyurus as Vulnerable
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).

Source
04

Arrese et al. 2005

Arrese et al. (2005). Cone topography and spectral sensitivity in two potentially trichromatic marsupials, the quokka (Setonix brachyurus) and quenda (Isoodon obesulus). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysthree kinds of colour cone
The source saysImmunohistochemistry revealed that SWS cones in the quokka are concentrated in dorso-temporal retina ... MSP confirmed that MWS and LWS cones are spectrally distinct, with mean wavelengths of maximum absorbance at 502 and 538 nm in the quokka ... The presence of three cone typesNote: reviewer: was 'three-colour vision'. The paper calls the quokka only 'potentially trichromatic' (title) and shows three cone types, not trichromatic vision
The page saysThree spectrally distinct cone types for colour vision
The source saysMSP confirmed that MWS and LWS cones are spectrally distinct, with mean wavelengths of maximum absorbance at 502 and 538 nm in the quokka ... accounting for a spectral shift from ultraviolet in the quenda to violet in the quokka
The page saysAmong mammals, three types of cone cell (the eye's colour-detecting receptors) were once thought to be unique to primates, humans included.
The source saysThe potential for trichromacy in mammals, thought to be unique to primates, was recently discovered in two Australian marsupials. Whether the presence of three cone types, sensitive to short- (SWS), medium- (MWS) and long- (LWS) wavelengths
The page saysIn 2005, researchers found three cone types in the quokka retina too, two of them peaking at 502 and 538 nanometres
The source saysMSP confirmed that MWS and LWS cones are spectrally distinct, with mean wavelengths of maximum absorbance at 502 and 538 nm in the quokka ... The presence of three cone typesNote: 2005 is the paper's publication year (reference metadata, checked against Crossref by audit:sources), so the quote can't contain it
The page saysThat's the same number primates use for full-colour vision.
The source saysThe potential for trichromacy in mammals, thought to be unique to primates, was recently discovered in two Australian marsupials. Whether the presence of three cone typesNote: final review: was 'the same anatomical toolkit'; the paper compares the number of cone types, not the eye
The page saysThe quokka retina carries three spectrally distinct cone types, the same headcount primates use for full-colour vision.
The source saystrichromacy in mammals, thought to be unique to primates ... MSP confirmed that MWS and LWS cones are spectrally distinct, with mean wavelengths of maximum absorbance at 502 and 538 nm in the quokka ... accounting for a spectral shift from ultraviolet in the quenda to violet in the quokka
The page saysThe study that found them suggests the trait spans the marsupials.
The source saysThe presence of three cone types, along with previous findings in the fat-tailed dunnart and honey possum, suggests that three spectrally distinct cone types are a feature spanning the marsupials.

Source
05

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia 2017

Fauna Profile: Quokka Setonix brachyurus. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia, 2017.

The page saysDense coastal heath
The source saysOn the south coast, they occupy a wide range of vegetation types including swamps, riparian areas, gullies and dense coastal heath.Note: hand check: PDF. Reviewer re-read it (text extracted with macOS PDFKit): verbatim on page 1, split in reading order by a map caption
The page saysin isolated patches of southwestern Western Australia
The source saysHistorically, the quokka was widespread and abundant across the south-west of Western Australia. ... it also continues to exist on Bald Island and in parts of its former range on the mainland, where it is found in isolated patches of the northern Jarrah forestNote: hand check: PDF. Reviewer read it (text extracted with macOS PDFKit), page 1
The page saysmales weigh 2.7 to 4.5 kg and females 1.6 to 3.5 kg
The source saysWeight: 2.7-4.5kg (males) and 1.6-3.5kg (females)Note: hand check: PDF. Final review read it with the Read tool: verbatim on page 1
The page sayswith a head and body 39 to 54 cm long, plus a 23 to 31 cm tail
The source saysHead and Body Length: 39-54cm Tail Length: 23-31cmNote: hand check: PDF. Final review read it with the Read tool: verbatim on page 1
The page saysThe quokka's best-known home is named after a case of mistaken identity.
The source saysThe species was described by a Dutch explorer as looking like a large rat and the island where he first saw them, Rottnest (meaning rat's nest), was named after the species. ... The species is best known from Rottnest IslandNote: hand check: PDF. Reviewer read it (text extracted with macOS PDFKit), page 1
The page saysby the early 1990s, the quokka's mainland range had shrunk by more than half
The source saysBy the early 1990s the quokka's distribution on the mainland had been reduced by more than 50%.Note: hand check: PDF. Reviewer re-read it (text extracted with macOS PDFKit): verbatim on page 1
The page saysgives males 2.7 to 4.5 kg and females 1.6 to 3.5 kg
The source saysWeight: 2.7-4.5kg (males) and 1.6-3.5kg (females)Note: hand check: PDF. Final review read it with the Read tool: verbatim on page 1. Was SDZWA's 2.5 to 5 kg under an ADW ref; DBCA gives the range by sex and states every fact this answer needs

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.