Western quoll
Western quoll[1] | |
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A western quoll at Caversham Wildlife Park, Western Australia | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
Family: | Dasyuridae |
Genus: | Dasyurus |
Species: | D. geoffroii
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Binomial name | |
Dasyurus geoffroii Gould, 1841
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Western quoll range |
The western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) is Western Australia's largest
Taxonomy
The western quoll is a member of the family
It is also known as the chuditch (/ˈtʃʊdɪtʃ/) in Western Australia (from Noongar djooditj);[6] chuditch serves as both the singular and plural form. Other common names include atyelpe or chilpa (from Arrernte),[7] kuninka (from Western Desert language);[8] idnya (Adnyamathanha people of the Flinders Ranges)[9] and the archaic western native cat.
Description
The western quoll is about the size of a domestic cat. It is coloured a
Often confused with eastern quoll, it differs in possessing a first toe on the hind foot and a darker tail. It does share a white-spotted brown coat and a long tail with both the eastern quoll and northern quoll.
Habitat
Once found across 70% of the Australian continent, the western quoll is now confined to south-western corner of
As a result of its carnivorous feeding habits, the western quoll has a large home range. These territories often share rock ledges and other open spaces. This serves to mark territory and for other social functions. Males spread out over about 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi) and typically overlap with several female ranges, about 3–4 square kilometres (1.2–1.5 sq mi) each. Although males share their large territories with smaller female territories, females do not cross theirs with other females. Most female home ranges contains around 70 hollow log dens and 110 burrows.[13]
Behaviour
A solitary, mostly
The western quoll is at the top of the food chain, and depends on resource abundance and a healthy ecosystem.[14] Being a carnivore, the western quoll feeds on large invertebrates and any small animal it can. This includes lizards, birds, frogs, spiders, insects, and small mammals; the largest it will eat is the size of a bandicoot or parrot.[citation needed]
Reintroduced populations in South Australia have been recorded preying on rabbits[16] and burrowing bettongs.[17]
They hunt mostly on the ground, but will climb a tree to grab a bird's egg. A bite to the back of the head kills their larger prey. It possesses an ability to obtain most of its water from its food, which is especially handy for survival during a drought.[14]
As
Decline
The western quoll has declined due to several factors. Land clearing, inappropriate fire regimes, grazing by stock and feral herbivores, illegal shooting, accidental drowning in water tanks, being hit by motor vehicles, and poisoning are all responsible for their disappearances.[4] Foxes and cats have a massive impact; both predation and competition narrow room for the western quoll.[2] As more land became less suitable for living in, the western quoll is forced to move elsewhere.
AWC (Australia Wildlife Conservancy) protects this species at Paruna Sanctuary using a comprehensive feral predator control program, which sees feral cat and fox numbers controlled using trapping and baiting.[4]
Reintroductions
There have been ongoing attempts to re-establish the western quoll in parts of its former range.[18]
A five-year trial re-introduction of western quoll to the
The species has been returned to the South Australian arid zone, with a population established at the fenced Arid Recovery Reserve near Roxby Downs.[23] Animals were reintroduced to the semi-arid Mount Gibson Sanctuary in WA in April 2023, with the aid of feral predator control.[24]
Plans are in process to reintroduce the species to
Captive breeding programs have contributed to reintroduction efforts, with Perth Zoo providing some animals for release.[11]
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Dasyurus geoffroii — Chuditch, Western Quoll".
- ^ a b c d e f "Australian Wildlife Conservancy". www.australianwildlife.org. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- ^ a b Serena, M.; Soderquist, T. (1995). "Western Quoll". In Strahan, Ronald (ed.). The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 62–64.
- ISBN 9781741312331.
- ISBN 0949659746.
- ISBN 0949659916.
- ^ a b Staight, Kerry (26 April 2014). "Helping Hand". Landline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ "Chuditch". perthzoo.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- ^ a b c d e "Dasyurus geoffroii (western quoll)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- ^ a b Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 48.
- ^ "Chuditch videos, photos and facts - Dasyurus geoffroii". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- ^ a b c "Returning the Western Quoll to arid zone area benefits entire ecosystem | FAME". fame.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- ^ a b "Western Quoll - Mammals - Nature Notes - Alice Springs Desert Park". www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- ^ AWPC. "feral rabbits – Australian Wildlife Protection Council". Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ISSN 1836-7402.
- ^ "Western quolls – Reintroducing the species to the Flinders Ranges (SA)". Retrieved 2015-09-17.
- ^ Staight, Kerry (7 February 2015). "More rare western quolls to be released in SA after successful start to reintroduction project". ABC News online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Fedorowytsch, Tom (8 May 2016). "Final batch of western quolls released into Flinders Ranges as part of reintroduction project". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
They seem to be holding on to their territory, and we think things are looking good but we'll continue to monitor for the next two years.
- ^ "Reintroduced quolls thriving in South Australia's Gammon Ranges, early signs show". ABC News. 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- ^ "Threatened western quolls making a comeback in Flinders Ranges". ABC News. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
- ^ "Year of the Quoll". Arid Recovery. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ Tribune, The National (2023-05-03). "Western Quoll reintroduction to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary sets a new milestone in conservation". The National Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
- ^ "Chuditch (Western Quoll)". Shark Bay. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Rewilding Wardang Island". Greening Australia. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Marna Banggara: Creating a safe haven for native species". Landscape South Australia. Northern and Yorke. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ "Bilbies, numbats, quolls included in 'great southern ark' rewilding project". www.abc.net.au. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "The Pilliga". AWC - Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Mallee Cliffs National Park Review of Environmental Factors for the Reintroduction of Locally Extinct Mammals". NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Sturt National Park Review of Environmental Factors for the reintroduction of locally extinct mammals". NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
External links
Media related to Dasyurus geoffroii at Wikimedia Commons