Greater Bilby: Unearthing Facts about Australia's Elusive Marsupial

Have you ever heard of quolls? They are not cats, but they are often called the native cats of Australia. Quolls are small, furry, and spotted marsupials that belong to the same family as Tasmanian devils and numbats. They are one of the few carnivorous marsupials left in the world, and they have a fascinating biology and ecology. In this blog post, we will introduce you to the six species of quolls, where they live, what they eat, and what threats they face.

What are quolls?

Quolls are members of the genus Dasyurus, which means “hairy tail” in Greek. They have long, bushy tails, pointed snouts, and pink noses. Their fur can be brown, black, or grey, and they have white spots on their backs and sometimes on their tails. They vary in size and weight, from 10 to 30 inches in length and 11 ounces to 15 pounds in weight. They have sharp teeth and strong jaws, which they use to catch and kill their prey. They also have five toes on each foot, with retractable claws that help them dig, climb, and grip.

Quolls are marsupials, which means they have pouches where they carry their young. Quolls breed once a year, usually in winter, and give birth to up to 18 joeys, of which only six survive in the mother’s pouch. The joeys stay in the pouch for about two months, and then move to a den, where they are nursed until they are weaned at about four months. Quolls are mostly solitary, but they may form social groups during the breeding season. They are nocturnal, which means they are active at night, and they spend the day in their dens, which can be tree hollows, rock crevices, burrows, or logs.

How many species of quoll are there?

There are six species of quoll, four of which are found in Australia and two in New Guinea. They are:

Species	Common Name	Fur Color	Spots	Tail	Size	Weight	Habitat	Diet	Status
Dasyurus maculatus	Spotted-tailed quoll	Brown or black	White, on back and tail	Long, bushy	Up to 30 inches	Up to 15 pounds	Forests and woodlands of eastern Australia and Tasmania	Medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, insects	Vulnerable
Dasyurus viverrinus	Eastern quoll	Ginger or black	White, on back	Long, bushy	Up to 21 inches	Up to 4 pounds	Grasslands and woodlands of Tasmania	Small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fruits	Endangered
Dasyurus geoffroii	Western quoll	Brown or black	White, on back	Long, bushy, with white tip	Up to 18 inches	Up to 4 pounds	Arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern Australia	Small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fruits	Vulnerable
Dasyurus hallucatus	Northern quoll	Reddish-brown	White, on back and rump	Blackish	Up to 16 inches	Up to 2 pounds	Tropical and subtropical regions of northern Australia	Insects, reptiles, frogs, birds, fruits	Endangered
Dasyurus spartacus	Bronze quoll	Dark brown	Faint	Long, bushy	Up to 20 inches	Up to 3 pounds	Montane forests of central New Guinea	Small mammals, birds, insects	Near threatened
Dasyurus albopunctatus	New Guinean quoll	Grey or black	White, on back	Long, bushy, with white stripe on chest	Up to 18 inches	Up to 3 pounds	Lowland and montane forests of eastern New Guinea	Small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects	Near threatened

What are the threats to quolls?

Quolls face many threats from human activities and invasive species. Some of the main threats are:

• Habitat loss and fragmentation: Quolls need large areas of natural habitat to find food, shelter, and mates. However, their habitat is being destroyed or degraded by logging, mining, agriculture, urbanization, and fire. This reduces their food sources, exposes them to predators and diseases, and isolates their populations.

• Predation and competition: Quolls have to compete with and avoid being killed by introduced predators such as feral cats, foxes, dogs, and dingoes. These animals prey on quolls and their prey, and also spread diseases and parasites. Quolls also have to deal with invasive herbivores such as rabbits, goats, and pigs, which damage their habitat and food sources.

• Poisoning: Quolls are vulnerable to poisoning by baits, pesticides, and toxins. Baits are often used to control feral animals, but they can also kill quolls and other native animals. Pesticides are used to kill insects and weeds, but they can also contaminate the food chain and affect quolls and their prey. Toxins are produced by some plants and animals, such as the cane toad, which is an invasive species that quolls may mistake for food. Cane toads secrete a deadly poison that can kill quolls within minutes.

• Climate change: Quolls are affected by the changes in temperature, rainfall, and fire regimes caused by climate change. These changes can alter their habitat, food availability, and breeding patterns. Quolls may have to adapt to new conditions, migrate to new areas, or face extinction.

How can we help quolls?

Quolls are important members of the Australian ecosystem, and they need our help to survive. Some of the ways we can help quolls are:

• Protecting and restoring their habitat: We can support the conservation and management of quoll habitat, such as national parks, reserves, and wildlife corridors. We can also reduce our impact on their habitat, such as by avoiding deforestation, pollution, and fire.

• Controlling invasive species: We can help control the population and spread of feral animals, such as by trapping, shooting, or sterilizing them. We can also avoid using baits, pesticides, and toxins that can harm quolls and other native animals. We can also help prevent the introduction of new invasive species, such as by checking our vehicles, luggage, and pets for hitchhikers.

• Supporting research and education: We can support the research and monitoring of quoll populations, ecology, and threats, such as by donating, volunteering, or participating in citizen science projects. We can also educate ourselves and others about quolls and their conservation, such as by reading, watching, or sharing information and stories.

• Adopting a quoll: We can adopt a quoll from a wildlife sanctuary or a conservation organization, such as the Australian Quoll Conservancy, which is dedicated to the conservation of all four Australian quoll species. By adopting a quoll, we can help fund their care, protection, and research.

Conclusion

Quolls are amazing animals that deserve our respect and admiration. They are unique, beautiful, and fierce, and they play a vital role in the Australian ecosystem. However, they are also endangered, and they face many threats from human activities and invasive species. We can help quolls by protecting and restoring their habitat, controlling invasive species, supporting research and education, and adopting a quoll. By doing so, we can ensure that quolls will continue to thrive and delight us for generations to come.

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