The Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized carnivorous marsupial belonging to the Dasyuridae family, which also includes the Tasmanian Devil. This spotted predator plays an important role in its ecosystem and is sometimes referred to as the eastern native cat. Its distinctive appearance has made it a focal point of recent conservation efforts across the country.
Key Physical Characteristics
The Eastern Quoll is roughly the size of a small domestic cat, with males generally being larger than females. Adult males typically weigh 1.1 to 1.3 kilograms, while females weigh 0.7 to 1.0 kilograms. Their body length ranges from 35 to 45 centimeters, with the tail adding another 21 to 30 centimeters.
The coat is the most identifying feature, coming in two distinct color variations: fawn or black. Both color morphs are covered in striking white spots distributed across the back and flanks. A distinction from other quoll species is that the spots do not extend onto the bushy tail. The animal also has a pointed snout, large sensitive ears, and only four toes on its hind feet.
Historical and Current Geographic Range
Historically, the Eastern Quoll was widespread across the southeastern Australian mainland, stretching from South Australia, through Victoria, and up to the central coast of New South Wales. Its preferred habitats included dry grasslands, woodlands, open forests, and agricultural areas. The mainland population became functionally extinct in the wild around the early 1960s, with the last confirmed sighting occurring near Sydney.
The species’ only remaining wild stronghold was the island state of Tasmania, a refuge partly due to the historical absence of the introduced Red Fox. Within Tasmania, the quoll inhabits a variety of environments, including dry sclerophyll forest, coastal scrub, and farmland edges. However, the Tasmanian population has experienced declines, with numbers dropping by over 50% in a recent ten-year period.
Diet and Nocturnal Behavior
The Eastern Quoll is primarily a nocturnal animal, functioning as an opportunistic carnivore and scavenger. Its diverse diet consists mainly of insects, such as cockshafer beetles and grubs, which it often finds by foraging in pastures and open country. The quoll supplements this insect diet with small vertebrates, including mice, rats, and reptiles, and will readily consume carrion.
During the day, this solitary animal seeks shelter in a variety of natural dens, commonly using hollow logs, rock piles, and underground burrows. Males tend to have larger home ranges and travel greater distances, sometimes over a kilometer in a single night. Females typically restrict their movements to a few hundred meters surrounding their den sites, though the quoll is mainly terrestrial, it possesses the ability to climb.
Conservation Status and Recovery
The Eastern Quoll is listed as Endangered by the Australian government and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Threats include predation by introduced species, notably the feral cat and the Red Fox, which drove its mainland extinction. Habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and disease also contribute to population decline.
Conservation efforts focus on establishing secure, predator-free safe havens to create insurance populations on the mainland. Since the early 2000s, reintroduction programs have been implemented in fenced sanctuaries in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, and in managed areas like Booderee National Park in New South Wales. These programs release captive-bred quolls from Tasmanian stock into areas where introduced predators are intensively managed or excluded.
While some early reintroduction efforts faced challenges, the ongoing strategy is to return the species to its former range. Active management of feral cats in Tasmania is also a high priority to stabilize the remaining wild population. These initiatives aim to secure the species’ future and allow it to thrive outside of its island refuge.