Historically, the Eastern Quoll occurred on Tasmania and on the Australian mainland, including South Australia (from the southern Flinders Range to the Fleureu Peninsula), Victoria, and New South Wales to the mid-north coast (C. Rehberg pers. comm.). The range has now been reduced by 50-90%. It has become extinct on the mainland within the last 40 years (the last mainland specimen being a road-killed specimen was in 31 January 1963 in Vaucluse, Sydney), although there are numerous unconfirmed reports of the species since then (C. Rehberg pers. comm.). The species is now present only in Tasmania and on Bruny Island, where it may have been introduced. It is widespread within Tasmania, but its distribution is patchy (Maxwell et al. 1996).

Eastern quolls once lived in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, and King Island (Nowak, 1991). They were last seen in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse in the 1960's and are now extinct from the Australian mainland. Eastern quolls are still common in Tasmania (Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania 1997).

Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )

Historic Range:
Australia

Eastern quolls are the size of small cats. Generally, females are smaller than males with females ranging from 600 to 1,030 grams and males ranging from 850 to 1,550 grams in weight. Head and body length ranges between 350 and 450 mm and tail length from 210 to 300 mm (Nowak, 1991). Fur colors range from black to brown or tan with white spots on their bodies. The tail may have a white tip. Quolls have a pink nose and ears, a thick snout, a pointed muzzle, and very sharp teeth (Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania 1997).

Dasyurus viverrinus differs from other species in this genus in that it lacks a first toe on the hind foot and the pads of the feet are granulated, rather than striated as in the other species (Nowak, 1991).

Range mass: 600 to 1550 g.

Average basal metabolic rate: 2.26 W.

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Eastern Quolls live in rainforests, woodlands, and closed forests. They are mostly found where rainfall exceeds 600 millimeters per year. Their dens are usually in caves and hollow logs or trees. They were once found in Victoria and the Great Dividing Range from East Queensland to Tasmania, but they are now extinct from all locales except for Tasmania. There are occasional sightings reported in the New England region of New South Wales, suggesting there may be a small residual mainland population (Whitfield 1984).

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Eastern quolls are predatory, they are primarily nocturnal and feed mainly on insects, though small vertebrates (small marsupials, rats, rabbits, and mice), carrion, and some vegetable matter may be taken as well. Preferred foods are the cockshafer beetle, corbie shrub, dead animals, and fruit (Parks and Wildlife of Tasmania 1997). They shelter in rock piles and hollow logs during the day (Nowak, 1991).

Dasyurus viverrinus preys on:
Pseudomys higginsi

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 6.8 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 5.0 years.

Maximum longevity: 6.8 years (captivity)

Eastern quolls experience a single breeding season between late fall and early winter. Up to 30 young are born at one time, though females have from 6 to 8 mammae and can only nurture that number of embryos in the pouch (Jagoe 2000, Nowak, 1991). They have a gestation period of 20 to 24 days. The young remain in their mother's pouch for 8 weeks and are weaned at 18 weeks. Maximum longevity recorded in a captive individual was 6 years and 10 months (Nowak, 1991).

Average birth mass: 0.02 g.

Average gestation period: 20 days.

Average number of offspring: 6.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 335 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 335 days.

Eastern quolls are endangered. CITES lists D. viverrinus as 'lower risk, near threatened.' Competitors such as feral cats, dogs, and European foxes, along with the destruction of their forest habitat, have led to their decline (Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania 1997).

US Federal List: threatened

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: near threatened

Current Listing Status Summary

Status: Endangered
Date Listed: 06/04/1973
Lead Region: Foreign (Region 10) 
Where Listed:


Population detail:

Population location: entire
Listing status: E

For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Dasyurus viverrinus , see its USFWS Species Profile

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Some farmers complain that their livestock, especially poultry, are attacked by this mammal. Quolls do sometimes eat sick and weak farm animals but their benefits may outweigh their negative impacts (Parks and Widlife Service of Tasmania 1998).

Eastern quolls can have positive effects on humans. They remove carrion and eat mice and insect pests on human crops. They are also fascinating animals with some tourism value in Tasmania (Parks And Wildlife Service of Tasmania 1998).