Spotted- tailed Quoll
Dasyurus maculatus

Importance of tree hollows

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.
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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.

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