Australia's Unique Animals

Quokka

Outside of Australia, most people have never heard of a quokka, a marsupial that resembles a pint-size kangaroo. Sometimes referred to as a "short-tailed wallaby," this animal has strong hind legs, which help it hop and climb small trees.

Large numbers of quokkas are found in Western Australia on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth. It's said that a Dutch explorer gave the island this name because it was inhabited by "rats the size of cats."