To what mammalian lineage does the quokka, Setonix brachyurus, belong?
Answer
Marsupials
The quokka is firmly classified within the lineage of marsupials, placing it alongside kangaroos and wallabies. This classification is fundamentally determined by their reproductive strategy. Marsupials give birth to young that are relatively undeveloped and incomplete upon exiting the womb. These neonates immediately seek refuge inside the mother's specialized external pouch, where they attach to a teat to complete the majority of their development over several months. This developmental path stands in stark contrast to placental mammals, such as rodents, where the fetus develops internally until it is much more mature at birth.
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