Animal Profile IUCN: LC

Spotted-tailed Quoll

Dasyurus maculatus

The spotted‑tailed quoll (also widely called the tiger quoll) is one of Australia’s most distinctive marsupial predators. Its dark coat is covered in white spots, and unlike other quolls those spots extend along the tail. Mostly nocturnal and highly athletic, it can hunt on the ground and climb tr

Mammal 2026-01-13 10:50:49 423 views

Scientific Name Dasyurus maculatus

Length Males have a head–body length of about 38–76 cm with a 37–55 cm tail; females are about 35–45 cm head–body with a 34–42 cm tail. Total length can exceed 1.2 m.

Weight Males are often around 2.8–4.6 kg and can reach about 7 kg; females are commonly about 1.5–2.0 kg and can approach 4 kg.

Lifespan Typically about 3–4 years in the wild (sometimes longer under favorable conditions); captive records can exceed 6 years.

IUCN Status LC

Table of Contents

Although the species is assessed as Near Threatened globally, conservation risk varies strongly by region. On mainland Australia, habitat fragmentation and predation by introduced foxes and feral cats have contributed to declines in many areas, while some Tasmanian populations remain comparatively stronger. Modern threats also include road mortality, entanglement or injury around human infrastructure, and poisoning risks.

Taxonomy and naming

This species is a marsupial carnivore in the order Dasyuromorphia, family Dasyuridae, genus Dasyurus. The scientific name is Dasyurus maculatus. Common names include Spotted‑tailed Quoll and Tiger Quoll.

Physical features

Spotted‑tailed quolls are long‑bodied and muscular with a pointed snout. The fur ranges from rufous‑brown to very dark brown and is marked with conspicuous white spots across the body. The defining feature is that the tail is also spotted, making this species easy to recognize. Rounded ears, sharp claws, and strong teeth reflect a lifestyle built around climbing, gripping, and dispatching prey. Scars and worn fur are common in adults and may reflect hunting, intraspecific conflict, or frequent movement through rugged forest terrain.

Range and habitat

The species is native to eastern and south‑eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It uses a variety of forest and scrub habitats, especially those with dense understorey and complex structure: rainforest margins, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, woodland edges, and coastal heath. Den sites are typically in rock crevices, hollow logs, tree hollows, or thick vegetation, providing daytime shelter and safe places for raising young.

Behavior and activity

Spotted‑tailed quolls are mostly nocturnal and usually solitary. Individuals maintain core areas within larger home ranges and use scent marking and regular travel routes. They are capable hunters and agile climbers, able to search tree hollows and move confidently along steep rocky slopes. Daytime is spent resting in dens, while night activity can involve long movements across forested landscapes.

Diet

They are primarily carnivorous, feeding on small to medium mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and large invertebrates, and they will also scavenge carrion. As high‑level predators they can influence prey communities and may compete with other carnivores where ranges overlap.

Reproduction and life cycle

Breeding usually occurs in winter. After a short gestation, the tiny young develop in the pouch before being moved to a den, where the mother continues nursing and guarding them. Litters are commonly around 4–6 young, though numbers can vary. Juveniles eventually disperse to establish their own ranges. Wild lifespan is typically limited by predation, road mortality, and habitat quality, which makes secure, connected habitat and low‑risk movement corridors especially important.

Relationship with people

This quoll is generally wary of people and is often detected through cameras, tracks, or den signs rather than direct sightings. Occasionally it may take poultry or scavenge near human activity, leading to conflict. Roads pose a major hazard, and domestic dogs can injure quolls in habitat edges. Good pet management, night‑time driving caution in quoll areas, and secure poultry enclosures help reduce problems.

Conservation status and threats

The species is assessed as Near Threatened (NT) globally, but legal status differs within Australia. Under the EPBC Act, the south‑eastern mainland population is listed as Endangered and the Tasmanian population as Vulnerable. Key threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, predation by foxes and feral cats, road mortality, and poisoning risks (including secondary poisoning from pest control). Conservation priorities commonly include maintaining and restoring forest connectivity, targeted predator control, reducing road‑kill at hotspots, and long‑term monitoring with community support.

Profile Details

Key characteristics, appearance, and habitat information.

Traits & Behavior

A large marsupial carnivore and elite climber, famous for white spots that continue down the tail; mostly nocturnal and solitary, hunting mammals, birds and reptiles, and playing a high‑level predatory role in forest food webs.

Appearance

A sleek, muscular quoll with a pointed snout (often with a pink nose) and a coat ranging from rich rufous‑brown to very dark brown. Distinct white spots cover the back and flanks, and crucially the tail is also clearly spotted, which is the key field mark that separates it from other quoll species. The ears are rounded and relatively large, the limbs are agile with sharp claws for climbing, and the teeth are robust with strong canines and carnassials suited to a meat‑based diet. Many individuals show scars from hunting, competition, or moving through rugged terrain.

Distribution & Habitat

Endemic to eastern and south‑eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It favors structurally complex habitats with dense cover, such as rainforest, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, woodland edges, scrub and coastal heath. Dens are commonly in rock crevices, hollow logs, tree hollows, or dense vegetation, and home ranges are typically largest where terrain and prey availability create a mosaic of hunting opportunities.

Visual guide

Spotted-tailed Quoll Photos

Browse available images of this species.

Quick answers

Spotted-tailed Quoll FAQs

Q1: How is the spotted‑tailed quoll different from the Tasmanian devil?

Both are marsupial carnivores, but the quoll is slimmer and a strong climber, with white spots across the body and down the tail. Tasmanian devils are bulkier, have powerful jaws, and typically lack the quoll’s spotted coat and tail pattern.

Q2: Is it dangerous to people or pets?

It generally avoids people and does not seek conflict. Small pets and poultry can be at risk if left unprotected at night in quoll habitat, so secure enclosures and supervised pets are recommended.

Q3: Why are there spots on the tail?

Tail spotting is a stable species trait and the best field mark for identification. In dappled forest light, the pattern may also contribute to camouflage.

Q4: What should I do if I encounter one in the wild?

Watch quietly from a distance and do not feed or chase it. Drive slowly at night on forest roads, keep pets controlled, and support local habitat and predator‑management efforts that reduce the major risks facing quolls.