Anyone applying for immigration to Australia will often be focused on adapting to new climatic conditions, understanding pertinent state and commonwealth laws, learning a new language (for a non English speaker) and just trying to blend in. But a less thought about aspect is the flora and fauna of the country one is going to.
Yet, if you are planning to reside in Australia, understanding its biodiversity will help you assimilate that much faster. Knowing the different species of wildlife will help you have a fuller Australian experience and not fall afoul of the law.
The quoll is one creature that would be great to know when you live in Australia. The term ‘quoll’ is an aboriginal word that means tiger cat. Settlers who arrived in Australia during the earliest immigration cycles called them ‘native cats’ or ‘spotted martens’. The quoll is a carnivorous marsupial. There are four distinct species of quoll – the Northern, the Western, the Eastern and the Spotted quoll. The regions of Australia with the most quoll are Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
The Spotted quoll is the second largest carnivorous marsupial in the world only second to the Tasmanian devil. The other quoll species are relatively small and can are the size of the domestic cat. As far as fur color goes, quolls are as diverse as they come. Colors may range from orange brown and dark chocolate brown, to black and reddish brown. The color of their underbellies is not as diverse and is often either white or creamy.
Quolls have pointed ears and a pink nosed snout. The average adult quoll weighs up to 4kgs and measures 130 cm in length. Quolls are nocturnal mammals that leave their burrows, rock crevices and hollow logs at nightfall. They will however venture out during the day during the cold seasons so they can catch the warmth of the sun.
The spotted tailed quoll feeds mostly on frogs, birds, lizards, rabbits, bandicoots, insects and fruits. They are carrion feeders i.e. feed on already dead animals. Quolls are known to feed on the food crumbs left behind in camp sites and picnics.
Quolls mate during the winter and have a gestation period of 21 days before birth. Like other marsupials, the new born remains in the mother’s pouch for several weeks – usually seven. After this, the baby quoll will leave the pouch and stay in the main den for six more weeks during which time while they continue to suckle. It is in this phase that they learn to eat meat before they are able to leave the den.
Quolls are an endangered species and the government of Australia is working hard towards their protection. Killing or harming a quoll is prohibited by law.
Back to the Australian animals overview
References:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/quolls2004.html
http://Australian-animals.net/quoll.htm
