The Quoll is a member of the Dasyurids
family, it is a Marsupial, and it is carnivorous, it is in fact
one of the largest of carnivorous marsupials we have in Australia.
It is a rich rufus brown above, paler below, with white spots
of different size all over the body including the tail. The head
and body length is 38-75 cm in males; females are smaller 34-45cm.
The male weighs up to 7 kg, the female 4 kg.
Tail length is almost the same size as the body length in both
male and female. It is found on the
east coast in sclerophyll forest and rainforest, unfortunately
most of us will never see one in the wild. Due to land clearing
having removed suitable habitat, competition from feral cats and
foxes, its numbers have been greatly reduced. It is now believed
that if the last forest areas where these critters live are opened
up for logging the Quoll will be unable to survive.
.
Once upon a time this area also had another specie of Quoll being
the Eastern Quoll, it was found in the early days from Southern
Queensland right through to Tasmania, it is now only found in
Tasmania. Let us hope the introduction of foxes in Tasmania will
not mean the disappearance forever of this particular specie of
Quoll.
The Spotted tailed Quoll become sexually mature at 1 year old,
the female will give birth to an average of 5 young. She will
carry her young in her pouch till they are 7 weeks old, and the
young become independent at 18 weeks. Breeding takes place from
April to July. The male will defend the nest site which can be
in a hollow log, rock caves, or even in trees, but have little
to do with his offspring.
It is mainly nocturnal as are most of our marsupials, but can
still be found in the sun foraging or sunning itself.
The Quoll is a very good hunter, prey can be birds, small macropods,
possums, rats and reptiles, and it will also clean up carcasses
of domestic animals.
Reference:
The Australian Museum Complete book of Australian mammals.
The Encyclopaedia of Australian Mammals by Ronald Strahan.
