Eastern Quoll
Dasyurus viverrinus
Body length, 48 - 58 cm; tail, 17 - 28 cm
Males approx. 1.1 kg; females, approx. 1.1 kg
Estimated at 10,000 - 12,000
Primarily grasslands, dry eucalyptus forests, scrublands and heathlands
Head first. When the eastern quoll engages prey, it goes for the head and bites. Insects and agricultural pests are favored targets, but the opportunistic eater is also able to sniff out and dig up food buried underground. This ability turns into a liability, however, when it encounters poisoned baits. having disappeared from mainland Australia in the 1960s, the marsupial is headed into danger zone in its last strongholds due to fluctuations in weather, roadkill mortality and predation by feral cats.
Head first. When the eastern quoll engages prey, it goes for the head and bites. Insects and agricultural pests are favored targets, but the opportunistic eater is also able to sniff out and dig up food buried underground. This ability turns into a liability, however, when it encounters poisoned baits. having disappeared from mainland Australia in the 1960s, the marsupial is headed into danger zone in its last strongholds due to fluctuations in weather, roadkill mortality and predation by feral cats.