Wildlife

Found only in Tasmania
The eastern quoll (or native cat, as it is sometimes called) is endemic to Tasmania, but considered extinct on mainland Australia since the early 1960s.

Male eastern quolls are about the size of a small domestic cat averaging 60 centimetres in length and 1.3 kilograms in weight; females are slightly smaller. They have thick, soft fur that is coloured fawn, brown or black. Small white spots cover the body except for the bushy tail which may have a white tip. Compared to the related spotted-tail quoll, the eastern quoll is slightly built with a pointed muzzle.

The species is found in a variety of habitats including rainforest, heathland, alpine areas and scrub. However, it seems to prefer dry grassland and forest mosaics which are bounded by agricultural land, particularly where pasture grubs are common.

Nocturnal scavengers
Eastern quolls are nocturnal and only occasionally forage or bask during daylight. During the day they sleep in nests made under rocks in underground burrows or fallen logs.

Eastern quolls sometimes scavenge morsels of food from around feeding devils. However, the main commponent of its diet is invertebrates, especially agricultural pests such as the cockchafer beetle and corbie grub. Carrion and some fruits are also eaten, but the diet largely consists of insects.

Read more on the Eastern Quoll