Spotted Tail Quoll

Facts

scientific name

Dasyurus maculates

conservation status

Near threatened

lifespan

4 - 6 Years

weight

1 - 3.5 Kilograms

diet

Their prey includes birds and their young, rats and other small terrestrial and arboreal mammals, gliding possums, small macropods, reptiles and arthropods

habitat

Tiger quolls live in a variety of habitats, but seem to prefer wet forests such as rainforests and closed eucalypt forest.

The Spotted Tailed Quoll is the largest carnivorous marsupial on the mainland of Australia. Also commonly called the Tiger Quoll, this animal is an opportunist hunter of a variety of prey, including birds and their young, rats and other small terrestrial and arboreal mammals, gliding possums, small macropods, reptiles and arthropods. It also scavenges carcasses of domestic stock. It is largely nocturnal, however will bask in the sun during the day. Sexual maturity is reached at approx 12 months. The gestation period is approx 3 weeks. The female’s pouch develops during the breeding season and opens towards the tail. The joeys (4 or 5 per litter) spend about 7 weeks inside the pouch and become independent at approx 18 weeks of age.