What do they look like?
The Northern Quoll is the smallest of four species of marsupial carnivore in the genus Dasyurus and they are the most aggressive. The species was first described in 1842 and given the species name hallucatus, which means ‘notable first digit’. This refers to the short ‘thumb’ on the hindfoot, which aids in gripping and climbing. The hindfeet have pads and five toes. It has white spots on its back and rump and a long, unspotted tail. The tail length can reach 35 cm. Northern Quolls can weigh up to 1.2 kg and they are also called the northern Australian native cat.
Where do they live?
The Northern Quoll previously occurred across most of the northern third of Australia, but its range has declined significantly. The northern quoll occurs from the Pilbara region of Western Australia across the Northern Territory to south east Queensland.
The Northern Quoll occupies a range of habitats including rocky areas, eucalypt forest and woodlands, rainforests, sandy lowlands and beaches, shrubland, grasslands and desert. Their habitat generally has rocky areas for dens. Dens are made in rock crevices, tree hollows or occasionally termite mounds.
Fast facts:
- OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
National: Endangered
State: Critically Endangered (NT), Endangered (WA)
- The Northern Quoll is the smallest of four species of marsupial carnivore in the genus Dasyurus and they are the most aggressive. The species was first described in 1842 and given the species name hallucatus, which means ‘notable first digit’. This refers to the short ‘thumb’ on the hindfoot, which aids in gripping and climbing. The hindfeet have pads and five toes. It has white spots on its back and rump and a long, unspotted tail. The tail length can reach 35 cm. Northern Quolls can weigh up to 1.2 kg and they are also called the northern Australian native cat.
OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
- National: Endangered
- State: Critically Endangered (NT), Endangered (WA)
HOW MANY OF US ARE THERE?
Unknown but undergoing rapid decline
WHERE DO WE LIVE?
The Northern Quoll previously occurred across most of the northern third of Australia, but its range has declined significantly. The northern quoll occurs from the Pilbara region of Western Australia across the Northern Territory to south east Queensland.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Northern Quoll is the smallest of four species of marsupial carnivore in the genus Dasyurus and they are the most aggressive. The species was first described in 1842 and given the species name hallucatus, which means ‘notable first digit’. This refers to the short ‘thumb’ on the hindfoot, which aids in gripping and climbing. The hindfeet have pads and five toes. It has white spots on its back and rump and a long, unspotted tail. The tail length can reach 35 cm. Northern Quolls can weigh up to 1.2 kg and they are also called the northern Australian native cat.
OUR HABITAT
The Northern Quoll occupies a range of habitats including rocky areas, eucalypt forest and woodlands, rainforests, sandy lowlands and beaches, shrubland, grasslands and desert. Their habitat generally has rocky areas for dens. Dens are made in rock crevices, tree hollows or occasionally termite mounds.
Northern Quolls are opportunistic omnivore predators and scavenge on a range of food including fleshy fruit (figs, native grapes), insects and other invertebrates, amphibians, small reptiles, small birds and rodents, and carrion.
FAMILY LIFE
Northern Quolls breed once each year and bear on average seven young. Females wean two to three young which become reproductively mature at 11 months.
Most Northern Quoll males die at the age of about 12 months, after the short, synchronised breeding period, leaving the females to raise the young alone. This species is the largest animal to be semelparous – the males reproduce only once, usually followed by death.
Young start to eat insects at four months old, and leave the den to forage at five months old, whilst still suckling from their mother. Juveniles are weaned at 6 months old, in November to early December.
THREATS TO OUR SURVIVAL
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to clearance of native vegetation
- Predation from foxes and cats
- Inappropriate and changed fire regimes
- Invasive plants
- Lethal toxic ingestion caused by Cane Toads
