Dasyurus viverrinus               Carnivore          Nocturnal           Status: Near threatened

Now extinct in mainland Australia, this species (Eastern Quoll) is plentiful in Tasmania, where there are no foxes or dingoes.  It is a cat-sized marsupial that occupies the niche filled by cats elsewhere.  It hunts alone at night for insects and small mammals.  There can be as many as 30 babies in its litters, but only the ones who attach themselves to one of their mother’s six teats will survive.  Other quoll species can be found in mainland Australia and in New Guinea.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Doherty.