The quokka is a small marsupial native to Australia, known globally for its photogenic features that make it appear to be smiling. This macropod, roughly the size of a domestic cat, was first encountered by European explorers who fundamentally misidentified it. The journey from being mistaken for a large rodent to receiving formal scientific classification spanned more than a century.
Where Quokkas Live
The quokka’s existence is primarily defined by a small, isolated area in the southwestern part of Australia. The largest population resides on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, and a smaller colony is found on Bald Island, near Albany. These island populations thrived due to a lack of introduced predators, such as the red fox, which severely impacted their mainland relatives.
Isolated populations of quokkas also persist on the Australian mainland, mostly restricted to protected areas in the coastal heath and forests between Perth and Albany. Historically, the species was far more widespread across the mainland’s southwest region.
The 17th-Century European Sighting
The quokka first entered the European record in the late 17th century during an exploratory mission led by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh. On December 29, 1696, Vlamingh and his crew landed on the small offshore island and encountered the hopping mammals. Vlamingh described the creatures as “a kind of rat as big as a common cat.” This misidentification of the macropods as giant rodents inspired him to name the landmass “‘t Eylandt ‘t Rottenest,” or “Rats’ Nest Island,” which was later anglicized to Rottnest Island.
Scientific Naming and Classification
Following the initial 1696 sighting, it took over a century for the quokka to be accurately placed within the animal kingdom. Formal scientific recognition occurred in the early 19th century as expeditions brought specimens and detailed descriptions back to Europe. The species was ultimately recognized as a marsupial and a member of the macropod family, which includes kangaroos and wallabies.
The quokka received its binomial name, Setonix brachyurus, in 1830, classified by French naturalists Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard. The species name brachyurus refers to the animal’s short tail, a distinguishing feature. The quokka is the sole member of its genus, Setonix.