Eastern quoll
- The eastern quoll lacks the first toes on its hind limbs, unlike other spotted quolls. The loss of these toes makes it unique among related species.
- The eastern quoll gives birth to 4–8 young, but its pouch has only 6 teats, so only the first young that reach the pouch survive. The female gives birth to 4–8 young, but her pouch has only 6 teats.
- Climbs well and hunts on the ground and in trees.
- Males larger than females.
- Uses dens in hollows and burrows.
- In captivity 4–6 years.
- Body 28–45 cm.
- Status Endangered.
Age
The quoll is a species with a lifespan of 2 to 3 years, although the maximum recorded lifespan reaches 6 years 10 months, and the theoretical lifespan ranges from 3 years 5 months to 6 years 10 months. The age of sexual maturity for males and females occurs within the period of 10 months 3 weeks to 1 year 1 month. Development begins with the "Embryo" stage, when the embryo develops inside the mother, being very small and incapable of independent feeding. This is followed by the "Joey" stage, during which the joey lives in the mother's pouch, feeds on milk, and grows rapidly, lasting from 3 to 4 months. The eyes of joeys open at an age of 2 months 2 weeks to 3 months. After the joey stage comes the "Adult" stage, which lasts from 1 year to 4 years 1 month, during which the animal is capable of reproduction and independent hunting.
Phenotype
The eastern quoll embryo has a body without fur and large front paws to crawl to the pouch. Short fur with white spots appears on the young. Adult eastern quolls have thick fur with numerous white spots on their backs and sides, and they come in two colors: black and brown. The species possesses strong claws on its paws that aid in climbing and digging. An adult has a long, spotted tail with a white tip, which helps to balance when jumping. They also have sharp teeth for catching and consuming prey.
Physiology
Eastern quolls have a body height ranging from 17.8 centimeters to 4.5 meters, and a body length ranging from 32 to 45 centimeters; their mass varies from 0.71 to 0.74 kilograms. The embryo stage is characterized by a body mass of 0 grams and a body length from 5 millimeters to 1.5 centimeters. During the pup stage, the young have a body mass ranging from 0.1 to 80 grams and a body length from 2 to 10 centimeters. Adult eastern quolls weigh from 0.8 to 1.3 kilograms and measure from 35 to 45 centimeters in length.
Habitat
Elevation above sea level—up to 1.5 km. Biomes—Temperate mixed forest (summer is warm, with many oaks, birches, and maples), Flooded meadows (water often floods the land, with abundant grass). Landscape—land, terrestrial forest, terrestrial meadows and steppes, terrestrial herbaceous lands, shrubs. Climate—Cool summer (summer is not hot, +15…+20 °C), Always very wet (rains fall almost constantly, very humid), Cool summer and many rains (many rains, summer is not hot), Warm summer and many rains (many rains, summer is warm and pleasant), Warm summer (summer is warm, winter is not very cold).
Shelter
Eastern quolls inhabit hollow logs, burrows, or crevices in rocks; these locations serve as dens for the species. The den is constructed using grass. It provides a place for reproduction, rest, and protection from the sun.
Geography
The eastern quoll is found within the biogeographical region of Australasia and occupies temperate rainforests and temperate forests of Tasmania.
Feeding
The eastern quoll is a predator that catches and consumes small animals and occasionally feeds on carrion; the species employs active nighttime hunting using large teeth to pursue its prey. Its diet includes insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, and carrion, with a daily food requirement ranging from 50 grams to 120 grams. Quoll pups consume milk during their early development, while adults hunt actively to obtain beetles, flies, mayflies, butterflies, amphipods, ribbon worms, snails, nematodes, bedbugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, and caddisflies.
Reproduction
Eastern native cats inhabit and develop on land, away from bodies of water, and their embryos develop for 2 weeks and 6 days. The female carries the young in her pouch or mouth on land, where they grow for several months. A litter has 4 to 8 young, which are very small at birth and move themselves into the mother’s pouch. Reproduction occurs once per year, with a reproductive interval of 1 year. The species exhibits homogamy, meaning reproduction always involves fertilization without generation change. The female rears the young in nests built on or close to the ground, inside tree trunks, or in caves/crevices, where only the mother demonstrates parental care. Young develop in nests within tree trunks or in caves/crevices, and may also develop in terrestrial nests. Maturity is reached from 10 months to 1 year and 1 month.