Tiger Quoll: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Australian Mammals · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. Also called the spotted-tailed quoll, it is the only quoll with white spots on its tail as well as its body.
2. Its long pink foot pads have ridges that help it grip branches. They make up for a tail that cannot grab hold of anything.
3. Measured against its size, this quoll's bite is the second strongest of any living meat-eating mammal.
4. Babies start out just 7 mm long. They cannot see for their first 50 to 60 days, so they find mum and siblings by sound and touch.
5. In South Australia, tiger quolls were thought gone for 130 years. Then, in 2023, one was caught in the state's south-east.

The quiz

1. What makes the tiger quoll different from all other quolls?

• It has no spots at all
• It has spots on its tail too (correct)
• It lives in the sea
• It has a grasping tail

It is the only quoll with spots on its tail as well as its body.

2. What helps the tiger quoll grip branches when climbing?

• Sticky saliva
• Its tail wrapping around twigs
• Hooks on its ears
• Ridged foot pads (correct)

Its ridged foot pads help it climb, since its tail cannot grab.

3. How does the tiger quoll's bite rank for its body size among living mammal hunters?

• Second most powerful (correct)
• Weakest of all
• Average
• Tenth most powerful

Relative to its size, its bite ranks second among living mammalian carnivores.

4. How do young tiger quolls find their mother before their eyes open?

• By the smell of flowers
• By following light
• By sound and touch (correct)
• By riding on her back

Blind for 50 to 60 days, they rely on calls and touch.

5. What happened in South Australia in 2023?

• The last tiger quoll there died
• A tiger quoll was caught after 130 years thought gone (correct)
• Tiger quolls were first named
• A tiger quoll swam to Tasmania

Thought locally extinct for 130 years, one was caught in the state's south-east.

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