The tiger quoll
(Dasyurus maculatus), also known as the spotted-tail quoll, the spotted quoll,
the spotted-tailed dasyure or the tiger cat, is a carnivorous marsupial of the
quoll genus Dasyurus native to Australia. With males and females weighing
around 3.5 and 1.8 kg, respectively, it is mainland Australia's largest, and
the world's longest (the biggest is theTasmanian devil) living carnivorous
marsupial. Two subspecies are recognised; the nominate is found in wet forests
of southeastern Australia and Tasmania, and a northern subspecies, D. m.
gracilis, is found in a small area of northern Queensland and is endangered.
The tiger quoll
is a member of the family Dasyuridae, which includes most carnivorous marsupial
mammals. This quoll was first described in 1792 by Robert Kerr, the Scottish
writer and naturalist, who placed it in the genus Didelphis, which includes
several species of American opossum. The species name, maculatus, indicates
this specie The tiger quoll is the largest of the quolls. Males and females of
D. m. maculatusweigh on average 3.5 and 1.8 kg, respectively, and males and
females of D. m. gracilis weigh on average 1.60 and 1.15 kg, respectively. The
next-largest species, the western quoll, weighs on average 1.31 kg for males
and 0.89 kg for females. The tiger quoll has relatively short legs, but its
tail is as long as its body and head combined. It has a thick head and neck and
a slightly rounded and elongated snout. It has five toes on each foot, both
front and hind, and the hind feet have well-developed halluces. Its long pink
foot pads are ridged, an adaptation for its arboreal lifestyle.
This makes up for the fact that its tail is
not prehensile. The tiger quoll has a reddish-brown pelage with white spots,
and colourations do not change seasonally. It is the only quoll species with
spots on its tail in addition to its body. Its fur and skin are covered in
orange-brown-coloured oil. The underside is typically grayish or creamy white.
The average length of D. m. maculatus is 930 mm for males and 811 mm for females, respectively. For D. m. gracilis, the average length of males and females, respectively, is 801 and 742 mm. s is spotted. The tiger quoll is found in eastern Australia where more than 600 mm of rain fall per year. Historically, the quoll was present throughout southeastern Queensland, though eastern New South Wales, Victoria, southeastern South Australia, and Tasmania. European settlement has severely decimated and fragmented the quoll's mainland distribution. Tiger quolls are rare in southeastern Queensland and mainly restricted to national parks. In Victoria, quoll populations have declined by nearly 50%. The range decline was not as severe in New South Wales, but they are still rare. The quoll was probably never very numerous in South Australia. In Tasmania, the tiger quoll mostly frequents the northern and western areas where rains are seasonal. Tiger quolls were once native to Flinders and King Islands, but were extirpated since the 20th century, so are not present on Tasmanian offshore islands.
The average length of D. m. maculatus is 930 mm for males and 811 mm for females, respectively. For D. m. gracilis, the average length of males and females, respectively, is 801 and 742 mm. s is spotted. The tiger quoll is found in eastern Australia where more than 600 mm of rain fall per year. Historically, the quoll was present throughout southeastern Queensland, though eastern New South Wales, Victoria, southeastern South Australia, and Tasmania. European settlement has severely decimated and fragmented the quoll's mainland distribution. Tiger quolls are rare in southeastern Queensland and mainly restricted to national parks. In Victoria, quoll populations have declined by nearly 50%. The range decline was not as severe in New South Wales, but they are still rare. The quoll was probably never very numerous in South Australia. In Tasmania, the tiger quoll mostly frequents the northern and western areas where rains are seasonal. Tiger quolls were once native to Flinders and King Islands, but were extirpated since the 20th century, so are not present on Tasmanian offshore islands.
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