With a distinctly Australian name, the Quokka is a unique little marsupial that traverses the outback at night.

The Quokka is an nocturnal marsupial, a fascinating relative of the kangaroo that lives in small groups. These groups can be found sleeping together during the daytime for protection from predators - there is safety in numbers in the outback. They often come in large numbers and are known to take over a watering hole, coming up in numbers of over 100 at a time! Although they socialize near water holes at night, the Quokka is drought adapted and may go for long periods without water. They are close cousins to the kangaroo, resembling them in several different ways, complete with strong legs and a pouch. They prefer living in tall grass where they can be shrouded from predators. They are herbivores, eating the grass that shields them and a number of other outback plants. Breeding time occurs in the late winter and spring, with the female of the mating pair producing only one baby after a full month of carrying the child. After birth, the mother continues to carry the child - this time in the pouch she has in the front. The baby, called a "Joey", lives off of its mother for another six months or so before it's ready to head out into the wild. Overall, the Quokka is a very interesting little marsupial that is fascinating to watch.

The Quokka is described as rodent-like in appearance by some! It also resembles a Kangaroo or a Wallaby far more than anything else you will find in the outback. They are covered in a thick, long coat of gray or brown fur that keeps them warm during those cold outback nights. Quokkas are about the size of a rabbit! They have rounded heads and ears, with an intelligent face. They also have an attractive black stripe on their heads. Generally Male Quokkas are larger than females.

The Quokka comes from the island Rottnest, which was named by an explorer named Dirk Hartog. Hartog mistook the Quokka for a large rat instead of a marsupial, and thus named the island Rottnest, which is a way of saying "rat's nest". Of course, the Quokka is a marsupial, not a rodent!

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The Quokka's breeding season occurs in the late winter and spring, with the female of the mating pair producing only one baby after a full month of carrying the child. After birth, the mother continues to carry the child in the pouch she has in the front of her body. The baby, called a "Joey", lives off of its mother for another six months or so before it's ready to head out into the wild.