Spotted-tail Quoll

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

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