Threatened Species: Spotted-Tailed Quoll
Spotted tail quoll
© WWF-Canon/Frédy MERCAY
Spotted-tailed quolls, Australia's largest carnivorous marsupials, once lived across Australia but numbers have declined due to loss of habitat and introduced species such as foxes, cats and cane toads.
Captain Cook observed quolls in 1770 and recorded the name 'quoll' as their local Aboriginal name. There are four species of quoll in Australia and two in Papua New Guinea. Since 1770, quolls have become threatened because of habitat loss, introduced species such as foxes, cats and cane toads and altered fire regimes. Spotted-tailed quolls are the largest native carnivores left on our mainland and are, in ecological terms, Australia's equivalent of the lion or tiger, although smaller - the males grow to around 76cm long.
How you can help
- Landholders can find out whether your land is likely to be quoll habitat. Contact the Threatened Species Network for details
- De-sex your pets and make sure they don't go hunting at night
- Get involved in bush regeneration projects in your area
- Take care when driving through quoll habitats
- When leaving a cane toad area, make sure none hitch a ride out with you!
