Hi all,
I know many of you keep an eye out for mammals while birding, and I’m seeking information about any possible Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) sightings.
If you have any information about Australian mainland Eastern Quolls, please do get in touch. For this project I am not interested in Spotted-tail Quoll Dasyurus maculatus (also called Tiger Quoll) records or Tasmanian records. I have included a brief description of both species below if you need further details about the differences.
Up until recently the last known sighting of Eastern Quolls on the mainland was at Vaucluse (Sydney) in 1963. A more recent (1989) specimen, a roadkill found in Barrington Tops, has raised hope that this species may still persist in the wild in mainland Australia. For those interested this has been reported here www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/the-eastern-quoll-thought-extinct-on-mainland-for-50-years-may-yet-be-alive-20160225-gn446p.html
I am compiling a list of sightings of Eastern Quolls on mainland Australia to provide to the team working on this species. This includes wild animals live or dead, and also captive animals, taxidermied specimens, skulls or pelts of known origin. Please send any information you have relating to sightings through to ben.hope@environment.nsw.gov.auben.hope@environment.nsw.gov.au> (rather than to the Birding-Aus list server).
Please include information on the following:
Observer(s) name:
Contact details of observer(s):
Date: If not known approximate date range, season or month.
Time: If not known approximate e.g. day, morning, midnight etc.
Location (in words):
Co-ordinates: e.g. google map co-ordinates or other formats (specify format please)
Accuracy of coordinates in metres:
Notes about animal’s appearance:
Notes about what the animal was doing:
Microhabitat in which animals was seen:
Are you sure this was an eastern quoll, not a spotted-tail quoll and why?:
Any supporting information: e.g. scanned field note book, diary entry, photos etc.
Many thanks for any information provided, it’s much appreciated.
Best regards,
Ben Hope
Project Officer
NSW Scientific Committee
Eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus
“Male eastern quolls are about the size of a small domestic cat averaging 60 cm in length and 1.3 kg 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 eastern quoll has two colour phases — ginger-brown or black, both with white spots on the body but not the tail.” Source www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=4774
Spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus
“Spotted-tailed quolls vary from reddish brown to dark chocolate brown with white spots on the body and tail (unlike eastern quolls which do not have spots on the tail). The species is considerably larger than the eastern quoll, with males measuring up to 130 cm long and 4 kg in weight. Females are significantly smaller than males. The eyes and ears of the spotted-tailed quoll are comparatively smaller than those of the eastern quoll. Also the spotted-tailed quoll is physically strong in appearance, with a thick snout and wide gape.” Source www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=4807
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