# Eastern Quoll (*Dasyurus viverrinus*)

> The eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) is a spotted marsupial predator now confined to Tasmania after mainland extinction. Adults weigh about 1.3 kg, hunt insects and small vertebrates, and are listed Endangered.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Endangered
- **Range:** Tasmania; extinct on mainland Australia.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/eastern-quoll/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Dasyuromorphia
- **Family:** Dasyuridae
- **Genus:** Dasyurus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Dasyurus viverrinus |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Grassland and woodland |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Weight | 1.0–1.5 kg |
| Top speed | up to 30 km/h |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |

## Spotted marsupial hunter

Eastern quolls resemble small cats with white spots on brown or black coats. They are agile nocturnal predators with crushing teeth for insects and small mammals.

## Insects, mice, and carrion

Beetles, cockroaches, and small mammals dominate the diet; carrion and fruit are taken opportunistically. Males are larger and more aggressive than females.

## Tasmania after mainland loss

Once widespread in southeastern Australia, they vanished from the mainland by the 1960s. Tasmania's farmland and woodland now hold the only wild population.

## Endangered by toxoplasmosis and roads

IUCN lists the eastern quoll Endangered. Feral cats spread toxoplasmosis; roadkill and habitat change compound declines. Reintroduction trials continue on mainland sanctuaries.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why did eastern quolls disappear from mainland Australia?

Foxes, habitat change, disease, and persecution likely combined to wipe them out on the mainland.

### Are eastern quolls related to Tasmanian devils?

Yes — both are dasyurid marsupial carnivores, though quolls are smaller and more arboreal.

### What do the white spots on a quoll mean?

They are species-specific markings for camouflage and recognition, not gender indicators alone.

### Where can you see wild eastern quolls?

Tasmania — especially farmland edges and national parks at night.

### Why is the eastern quoll Endangered?

Only Tasmania holds wild quolls; disease, roadkill, and predator competition keep numbers fragile.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/eastern-quoll/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.