What common name, highlighting its size relative to vermin, was sometimes historically used for the quokka?
Answer
Rottnest Island rat
Historically, the quokka was sometimes referred to as the **Rottnest Island rat** by early explorers. This common name was descriptive rather than taxonomically accurate, arising from the animal's relatively small size when encountered by Europeans, leading to comparisons with actual rats. Although the binomial nomenclature *Setonix brachyurus* is the accepted scientific standard today, this older label reflects initial visual assessments based on relative scale.
Related Questions
What specific anatomical feature does the specific epithet brachyurus in Setonix brachyurus describe?What characteristic structure defines the Order Diprotodontia, which includes the quokka?The Family Macropodidae is named for a shared physical trait relating to what part of the body?What term describes the taxonomic situation where the Genus Setonix contains only the single living species S. brachyurus?What is the highest taxonomic rank classification assigned to the quokka in the formal system of life organization?Which structural feature is fundamental in classifying the quokka under the Phylum Chordata?Which geographic location supports the healthiest concentration of Setonix brachyurus populations due to environmental factors?What common name, highlighting its size relative to vermin, was sometimes historically used for the quokka?What is the critical characteristic that places the quokka within Class Mammalia?Compared to the diverse Macropus genus, what does the structure of the Setonix genus imply about the quokka's evolutionary path?