Mammals · Dasyuromorphia · Dasyuridae

Spotted-tailed Quoll

Dasyurus maculatus

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It is the second largest carnivorous marsupial in the world after the Tasmanian devil, and has the second most powerful bite for its size of any living carnivorous mammal.

Weight

1.5 kg – 4.6 kg

Size

74 cm – 93 cm

Lifespan

4 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestTemperate forestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Rainforest Temperate forest Mammal

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Fun facts

It is the only quoll with spots on its tail as well, which is where its common name comes from.
It eats gliders, possums, small wallabies, birds, reptiles and insects.
It lives in wet and dry forest, riverine woodland and rainforest of eastern Australia and Tasmania.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (marsupial mammal)
Habitat & environment: Wet and dry forest, riverine woodland and rainforest of eastern Australia and Tasmania
Birth weight: ~7 mm long at birth, wholly undeveloped
Size at birth: 7 mm long at birth
Sexual maturity: ~12 months
Gestation / incubation: ~21 days
Litter / clutch size: Up to 5 young per litter on average (more are born, but only those that reach a teat survive)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 6.8 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; ACT Government; Odonata Foundation; iNaturalist; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); NSW Environment and Heritage; The Animal Facts; Wikipedia (Tiger quoll)