Caleb McElrea
Spotted Tailed Quoll
Finally I've had a good chance to photograph these amazing animals, which is up with the wombat and platypus as my favourite of all animals, at least from Australia. They were captive, there was a family of about seven young Quolls in one of the three Tiger Quoll enclosures down the back. Not really awake during the day the night tour is the best time to see them.
Spotted Tailed Quoll - Dasyurus Maculatus
The spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus - or tiger cat as it was once inappropriately known) is the second largest of the world's surviving carnivorous marsupials. Spotted-tailed quolls vary from reddish brown to dark chocolate brown with white spots on the body and tail (unlike eastern quolls which do not have spots on the tail). The species is considerably larger than the eastern quoll, with males measuring up to 130 cm long and 4 kg in weight. Females are significantly smaller than males.
The eyes and ears of the spotted-tailed quoll are comparatively smaller than those of fellow marsupial the eastern quoll. Also, the spotted-tailed quoll is physically strong in appearance, with a thick snout and wide gape.
The spotted-tailed quoll is also found on the east coast of mainland Australia, but is rare. Two subspecies have been descibed -- a smaller one (D. m. gracilis) is found in northern Queensland. D. m. maculatus occurs from southern Queensland to Tasmania. The spotted-tailed quoll is now threatened throughout its mainland range.
Spotted-tailed quolls are most common in cool temperate rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub along the north and west coasts of the state.
Spotted-tail quolls are largely solitary and nocturnal, although the species does sometimes forage and bask during daylight hours. Spotted-tailed quolls spend a tenth of their time moving with agility above the forest floor on logs or in trees.
The spotted-tailed quoll is a capable hunter that, like the eastern quoll, kills its prey by biting on or behind the head. Prey taken by the spotted-tailed quoll include rats, gliding possums, small or injured wallabies, reptiles and insects. Birds and eggs are also taken from time to time. Carrion is frequently eaten by spotted-tailed quolls and even tip scavenging and beachcombing occur. Large spotted-tailed quolls compete directly with Tasmanian devils for food -- one female has even been seen to chase a Tasmanian devil away from a carcase!
Spotted Tailed Quoll. [Internet] www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5373RD?open (accessed 30/09/10)
Spotted Tailed Quoll
Finally I've had a good chance to photograph these amazing animals, which is up with the wombat and platypus as my favourite of all animals, at least from Australia. They were captive, there was a family of about seven young Quolls in one of the three Tiger Quoll enclosures down the back. Not really awake during the day the night tour is the best time to see them.
Spotted Tailed Quoll - Dasyurus Maculatus
The spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus - or tiger cat as it was once inappropriately known) is the second largest of the world's surviving carnivorous marsupials. Spotted-tailed quolls vary from reddish brown to dark chocolate brown with white spots on the body and tail (unlike eastern quolls which do not have spots on the tail). The species is considerably larger than the eastern quoll, with males measuring up to 130 cm long and 4 kg in weight. Females are significantly smaller than males.
The eyes and ears of the spotted-tailed quoll are comparatively smaller than those of fellow marsupial the eastern quoll. Also, the spotted-tailed quoll is physically strong in appearance, with a thick snout and wide gape.
The spotted-tailed quoll is also found on the east coast of mainland Australia, but is rare. Two subspecies have been descibed -- a smaller one (D. m. gracilis) is found in northern Queensland. D. m. maculatus occurs from southern Queensland to Tasmania. The spotted-tailed quoll is now threatened throughout its mainland range.
Spotted-tailed quolls are most common in cool temperate rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub along the north and west coasts of the state.
Spotted-tail quolls are largely solitary and nocturnal, although the species does sometimes forage and bask during daylight hours. Spotted-tailed quolls spend a tenth of their time moving with agility above the forest floor on logs or in trees.
The spotted-tailed quoll is a capable hunter that, like the eastern quoll, kills its prey by biting on or behind the head. Prey taken by the spotted-tailed quoll include rats, gliding possums, small or injured wallabies, reptiles and insects. Birds and eggs are also taken from time to time. Carrion is frequently eaten by spotted-tailed quolls and even tip scavenging and beachcombing occur. Large spotted-tailed quolls compete directly with Tasmanian devils for food -- one female has even been seen to chase a Tasmanian devil away from a carcase!
Spotted Tailed Quoll. [Internet] www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5373RD?open (accessed 30/09/10)