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Elected representatives in government are in charge of the policy and funding that can make or break saving threatened species. Their decisions and actions matter.

Franklin has or used to have 23 threatened animals within its boundaries. One of them is me, the Spotted-tail Quoll.

We took care to attach appropriate images that are as close to representative of each species as our resources and the availability of images allowed. However, we could not ensure perfect accuracy in every case. Some images show species that share the same genus but not at the species or subspecies level.

Photo of Spotted-tail Quoll

Spotted-tail Quoll

Dasyurus maculatus maculatus

Status: Vulnerable

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) lists threatened species under six categories:
Extinct, Extinct in the wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Conservation dependent. Read more about these categories

Dasyurus maculatus maculatus is found across 5 electorates.

The Spotted-tailed Quoll is a medium sized carnivourous marsupial and member of the Dasyuriade family. It is one of Australia's largest extant marsupial carnivores with males weighing between 2.6 kg and 4.6 kg and females between 1.5 kg and 2.2 kg. In extreme cases males have been recorded at 7 kg and females at 4 kg. Males are longer than females, growing to about 1.3 m in length, with females growing up to 85 cm. The northern subspecies, Dasyurus maculatus gracilis is considerably smaller than the southern subspecies Dasyurus maculatus maculatus. They are both characterized by a thick neck, strong head and rounded nose. They have thick, short fur which is golden to dark chocolate brown on the back and a pale cream on the underside. The Spotted-tailed Quoll has distinct white spots of varying size over the back, head and along the tail. They are agile both on the ground and when climbing. Their ability to climb is assisted by the ridges present in the pads of all their feet. The species is easily distinguished from other Quolls by its large and predominately spotted tail, from which it derives its name.¹

Explore more about this species on the Atlas of Living Australia

Adverse fire regimesAdverse fire regimes

Disrupted ecosystem and population processesDisrupted ecosystem and population processes

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradationHabitat loss, fragmentation and degradation

Invasive species and diseasesInvasive species and diseases

Overexploitation and other direct harm from human activitiesOverexploitation and other direct harm from human activities

PollutionPollution

Explore more about the threats facing species on our Resources page.

Franklin has or used to have 27 threatened plants found within its boundaries. Some of these might not be as photogenic as the Spotted-tail Quoll but they're just as important.

You are in federal electorate Franklin.

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