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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(2)

Diet of the tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) in south-eastern Australia

C. A. Belcher A D , J. L. Nelson B and J. P. Darrant C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Geelong, Vic. 3217, Australia. Present address: Ecosystems Environmental Consultants, 397 Brumbys Road, Peterborough, Vic. 3270, Australia.

B Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia.

C Cooma-Monaro Shire Council, PO Box 714, Cooma, NSW 2630, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: ecosystems@westvic.com.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 55(2) 117-122 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO06102
Submitted: 19 December 2006  Accepted: 28 February 2007   Published: 28 May 2007

Abstract

Analysis of 338 tiger quoll scats from tableland moist forest in south-eastern New South Wales found that the greater glider was the major prey species occurring in 54.1% of scats and contributing an estimated 51.01% of the biomass consumed by tiger quolls. Medium-sized (0.5–5 kg) mammals were the most important prey group by occurrence (53.9%), frequency (66.0%) and estimated biomass contribution to diet (62.93%). Other medium-sized prey taken by tiger quolls included: long-nosed bandicoot, rabbit, brushtail possum and ringtail possum. Macropods and wombats were also present in the scats and had been presumably taken as carrion. There was no significant difference in the diets of male and female tiger quolls. Tiger quolls were recorded hunting greater gliders in their tree hollows during the day, hunting rabbits in their burrows both during the day and at night and were observed eating road-killed macropods and wombats around dawn and dusk.


Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Environment Australia, Ecosystems Environmental Consultants, a Deakin University postgraduate scholarship (to CB), New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (JD and CB) and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (JN). Buff Rogers generously provided hospitality and access to the Suggan Buggan site. Barb Wilson, John Aberton and Peter Catling provided valuable comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.


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