Northern Quoll
Encyclopedia
The Northern Quoll also known as the Northern Native Cat, the Satanellus, the North Australian Native Cat or the Njanmak (in the indigenous Mayali language), is a carnivorous marsupial
mammal
, native to Australia
.
, and is often stated to be the most distinctive Australian quoll
. It was first described in 1842 by the famed naturalist and author John Gould
, who gave it the species name hallucatus, which indicates that it has a notable first digit. This species has sometimes been placed in a separate genus, Satanellus.
There are no recognised subspecies.
Northern Quolls feed primarily on invertebrates, but also consume fleshy fruit, and a wide range of vertebrates including small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes and frogs. They also scavenge on road-kills, around campsites and in garbage tins.
across the Northern Territory
to south east Queensland
. Their historical range extended uninterrupted from S.E Queensland to the Kimberleys in Western Australia . There are several disjunct populations. This quoll species is most abundant in rocky ranges and open eucalypt forest.
The Northern Quoll is now absent from many parts of its former range.The Northern Quoll has recently been listed as Endangered under Australian Commonwealth legislation (EPBC Act), although it is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The current major threat to the Northern Quoll is the spread of cane toad
s, which were originally introduced in Queensland
, but have now reached Kakadu National Park
in the Northern Territory, and are nearly in Darwin.
In two Kakadu study sites, quolls have become extinct at one site and declined from 45 individuals to 5 at the other site. The unconfirmed conclusion to be drawn from this is that the Northern Quoll will cease to exist in most areas in the Top End of the Northern Territory once the toad population completely overlaps the Northern Quolls range. There are remnant populations of Northern Quolls still persisting in Queensland where toads have been present for many years. Scientists do not yet understand the mechanism for their persistence; some will focus on this area in future research.
To help protect northern quolls against cane toad
s a University of Sydney
project, revealed in 2010, is teaching them to avoid eating the invasive amphibians through taste aversion.
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
, native to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Taxonomy
The Northern Quoll is a member of the family DasyuridaeDasyuridae
Dasyuridae is a family of marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, including 61 species divided into 15 genera. Many are small and mouse-like, giving them the misnomer marsupial mice, but the group also includes the cat-sized quolls, as well as the Tasmanian Devil...
, and is often stated to be the most distinctive Australian quoll
Quoll
The quoll, or native cat, is a carnivorous marsupial native to mainland Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. It is primarily nocturnal and spends most of the day in its den. There are six species of quoll; four are found in Australia and two in New Guinea...
. It was first described in 1842 by the famed naturalist and author John Gould
John Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
, who gave it the species name hallucatus, which indicates that it has a notable first digit. This species has sometimes been placed in a separate genus, Satanellus.
There are no recognised subspecies.
Life history
The Northern Quoll is the smallest of the four Australian quoll species. Females are smaller than males with adult females weighing between 350-690g and adult males 540-1120g. Head and body length ranges from 270-370mm (adult males) to 249-310 (adult females). Tail length ranges between 202-345mm. A remarkable feature of this species is that the males show complete die-off after mating, leaving the females to raise the young alone.Northern Quolls feed primarily on invertebrates, but also consume fleshy fruit, and a wide range of vertebrates including small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes and frogs. They also scavenge on road-kills, around campsites and in garbage tins.
Range and habitat
The Northern Quoll occurs from the Pilbara region of Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
across the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
to south east Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Their historical range extended uninterrupted from S.E Queensland to the Kimberleys in Western Australia . There are several disjunct populations. This quoll species is most abundant in rocky ranges and open eucalypt forest.
Conservation status
Cane Toad
The Cane Toad , also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to Central and South America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean...
s, which were originally introduced in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, but have now reached Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin.Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of , extending nearly 200 kilometres from north to south and over 100 kilometres...
in the Northern Territory, and are nearly in Darwin.
In two Kakadu study sites, quolls have become extinct at one site and declined from 45 individuals to 5 at the other site. The unconfirmed conclusion to be drawn from this is that the Northern Quoll will cease to exist in most areas in the Top End of the Northern Territory once the toad population completely overlaps the Northern Quolls range. There are remnant populations of Northern Quolls still persisting in Queensland where toads have been present for many years. Scientists do not yet understand the mechanism for their persistence; some will focus on this area in future research.
To help protect northern quolls against cane toad
Cane Toad
The Cane Toad , also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to Central and South America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean...
s a University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
project, revealed in 2010, is teaching them to avoid eating the invasive amphibians through taste aversion.