Near Threatened

Spotted-Tail Quoll

(Dasyurus maculatus)

Eastern Australian Temperate Forests

STATISTICS

Length up to

76 cm

Weight up to

3.5 kgs

Lifespan

5 years

Solitary - Predatory - Territorial

The Spotted-tail quoll likes both wet and dry forests, including sclerophyll, riparian, rainforests, and woodlands. It requires significant amounts of ground cover for denning sites. The male is larger than the female, and this species is the largest native, carnivorous marsupial. It has a red-brown body with bold white spots including on its tail. This species breeds once per year; an average litter is five offspring. After 12 weeks the litter starts eating food the female drops into the pouch. This species is mostly solitary; the males have a larger territory than females and females allow males to overlap their territory. Communicating territory is through scent. The Spotted-tail quoll eats gilders, rabbits, bandicoots, pademelons, and possums. Sometimes it eats insects and birds.

BIODIVERSITY BENEFIT

Population Control

THREATS

Habitat Loss

Due to urbanization and fragmentation.

Predation

The introduction of foxes and ferral cats have seen Spotted-tail quoll populations negatively impacted.

Poisoning

1080 poisoning for dingos has impacted this species.

14,000
Left in the Wild

PROTECT THE WILDARK 100