Spot-tailed Quoll

The Spot-tail Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus), also known as a Tiger Quoll, is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupials in Australia. They have reddish brown to dark chocolate brown fur with white spots around the body and tail. This marsupial can weigh up to four kilos.

The Spotted-tailed Quoll can be found near the coasts of NSW, VIC, Southern QLD, small parts of SA, all of TAS and a small population is said to be found in northern coastal regions in Queensland. Their preferred habitats are rainforests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, coastal heath and scrub. They require forests with suitable den sites such as hollows, hollow logs, rock crevices, caves and burrows. They have a large home range of 580ha-2200ha and prefer to feed on a range of small to medium sized mammals including gliders, possums and rabbits, as well as birds and insects and dead animals (carrion).

This species is listed as Endangered in Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999, and is endangered in Victoria and is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.  Populations are in decline due to a number of threats including habitat loss, predation and competition caused by foxes, wild dogs and cats and land clearing. Other threats to the Spotted-tailed Quoll include habitat fragmentation, disease, inbreeding, inappropriate fire regimes and poisoning from 1080 baits.