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Species Fact Sheet:
Northern quoll
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Nothern quoll
Dasyurus hallucatus
The northern quoll is a medium-sized carnivorous marsupial that lives in the savannas of northern Australia. It
is found from south-eastern Queensland all the way to the northern parts of the Western Australian coast.
Populations have declined across much of this range, particularly as a result of the spread of the cane toad.
Recent translocations to islands in northern Australia free from feral animals have had some success in
increasing populations on islands
Conservation status
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Redlist of Threatened Species:
Lower risk – near threatened
Australian Government - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999:
Endangered
Did you know?
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Although they are marsupials, female northern
quolls do not have a pouch. At the start of the
breeding season the area around the nipples
becomes enlarged and partially surrounded by a
flap of skin. The young (usually six in a litter) live
here for the first eight to 10 weeks of their lives.
Almost all male northern quolls die at about one
year old, not long after mating.
Distribution and habitat
Northern quolls live in a range of habitats but prefer rocky
areas and eucalypt forests. The quoll is a good climber but
spends most of its time foraging and sleeping on the
ground. During the day it likes to hide in hollow logs, rock
crevices, caves and hollow trees.
The species was once found from north of Brisbane right
across to the northern parts of the Western Australian
coast. It is now reduced to small populations in the
Northern Territory, Western Australia’s Kimberley and
Pilbara regions, and Queensland’s Cape York, Wet Tropics
and a small area just north of Brisbane.
Western Australia. They have been associated with the demise of a number of native species.
Conservation action
Communities, scientists and governments are working
together to coordinate the research and management
effort. The Threatened Species Network, a communitybased program of the Australian Government and WWFAustralia, recently provided funding for Traditional Owners
to survey Maria Island in the Northern Territory for northern
quolls. On Groote Eylandt, the most significant island for
northern quolls, a TSN Community Grant is providing funds
to help quarantine the island from hitch-hiking cane toads
by providing fencing and traps at key barge landings.
Past TSN Community Grants have included the support of
the Marthakal Rangers to translocate quolls to two islands
free of cane toads, and two other grants were provided to
support both the Kimberley Land Council and the
Lianthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit in undertaking northern
quoll surveys.
WWF successfully nominated cane toads as a Key
Threatening Process under the EPBC Act.
Ecology and life cycle
The northern quoll is the smallest in the quoll family,
growing to about the size of a small cat. It has a dark grey
to brownish body with large white spots and a long furry
tail. In Queensland the northern quoll lives in the same
areas as the spotted-tailed quoll, but it is easy to
distinguish between them - northern quolls are smaller and
don’t have spotted tails.
Threats
How you can help
Northern quoll populations have declined for various
reasons, such as introduced and invasive species and
changed fire patterns.
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Invasive species
The rapid decrease in northern quolls in recent years has
been due to the spread of the cane toad into areas where
they live. A recent study in Kakadu National Park found the
species was completely gone from sites where cane toads
had recently arrived.
For landholders, research whether your
land is likely to be quoll habitat. Contact
your local TSN coordinator for
information.
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Cane toads were brought to Australia in 1935 to control the
cane beetle in cane fields. They are now found across
northern Australian from the top of New South Wales
through the Northern Territory to the Western Australian
border. They also compete with quolls for food and
shelter. The toad will eat almost anything that fits in its
mouth - native insects, frogs, small reptiles, mammals and
birds. Cane toads are poisonous at all stages of their life
cycle. Northern quolls often mistake the toads for native
frogs, eat them and then die from the poison.
Road-related deaths are quite common
for this species, as the quoll often
scavenges on road kill and thus is placed
in danger. Take extra care driving through
areas of known quoll habitat, especially at
night.
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De-sex your pets, particularly dogs and
cats, so unwanted litters are not
produced that may create new
competitors for the quoll’s food. It is also
important to control your pets at night so
they don’t escape and become feral
predators.
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Participate in revegetation and tree
planting schemes in your local area. You
should ensure that all plants chosen are
locally sourced and appropriate for the
region and animals within it.
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Be careful when travelling in known cane
toad areas – make sure you don’t allow
cane toads to hitch-hike and spread
further.
Altered fire regimes
Fires can destroy den sites and vegetation and decrease
the availability of prey for the quolls. A change in the frequency or type of fire can affect quolls.
Introduced species
The introduction of foxes and cats has had a major impact
on Australia’s unique species, including quolls. Not only are
young quolls at risk of predation by foxes and cats but
these feral animals are also a competitor for food.
Foxes were introduced into Australia soon after European
settlement and are now well established over most of the
non-tropical mainland. Cat arrival is believed to predate
European settlement in Australia, with the first thought to
have become established from shipwrecks off the coast of
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