Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Dasyuromorphia
- Family
- Dasyuridae
- Genus
- Dasyurus
Habitat
Tiger quolls primarily inhabit wet sclerophyll forests, rainforests, and woodlands in eastern Australia, including Tasmania. They prefer areas with dense undergrowth for cover and proximity to water sources, avoiding open grasslands and arid regions.
Diet
Tiger quolls are carnivorous, feeding on a variety of prey including small mammals like rodents and bandicoots, birds, reptiles, insects, and carrion. They are opportunistic hunters, often active at night using stealth and agility to catch prey, and may scavenge when hunting is less successful.
Behavior
Tiger quolls are solitary and nocturnal animals, spending days in dens among rocks or tree hollows and emerging at night to hunt. They are territorial, marking their ranges with scent from glands and engaging in aggressive displays if intruders approach. They are agile climbers and swimmers, which aids in escaping threats and pursuing prey.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the tiger quoll is Near Threatened, with populations declining due to habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and predation by introduced species. Major threats include fragmentation of forests and competition with invasive predators.