Spotted marsupial martens. Speckled marsupial marten, or eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus. Appearance of a marsupial marten

Speckled marsupial marten ( Dasyurus viverrinus) is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List

Description and distribution

Speckled marsupial marten, or eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) - an animal the size of a small cat; Its body length reaches 45 cm, weight is about 1.5 kg. The color of the quoll's coat varies from black to yellowish brown; white spots cover its entire body, with the exception of its fluffy 30-centimeter tail. The animal has a cute, pointed muzzle and, unlike other species of spotted marsupial martens, it lacks the first digits on its hind limbs. Eastern quolls were once common in south-eastern Australia, but after the colonization of this continent they began to hunt poultry and rabbits and were mercilessly exterminated by farmers. Foxes, dogs and cats brought to Australia - food competitors of marsupial martens - also played a role, as well as the epizootics of 1901-1903. As a result, the number of eastern quolls has declined sharply, and now speckled marsupial martens have practically disappeared from the continent (the last quolls were seen in the suburbs of Sydney in the 60s of the 20th century). Fortunately, the species remains common in Tasmania. Nevertheless, it is listed in the IUCN Red List with the status of “close to threatened”.

Eastern quoll in zoos and mating characteristics

To save speckled marsupial martens Since they are becoming extinct, it was decided to try to learn how to keep and breed them in captivity. This is what zoologists at the Leipzig Zoo did. Their work was a success - and now their quolls reproduce regularly and feel great.

Several years ago, employees of the Moscow Zoo were in Leipzig, and they liked these cute marsupials so much that they began to find out if the Moscow Zoo could get them. And in June 2015, six speckled marsupial martens arrived at the Moscow Zoo at once - two males and four females. After some time, mating was recorded. This process in spotted marsupial martens is so unusual that it is difficult to ignore. In nature it happens like this. The female leaves behind an odorous trail, along which the male searches for her. He begins to chase her until she raises her paw and allows the male to sniff her thoroughly, thereby signaling her readiness to mate. During mating, the male jumps on the female’s back, clinging to her neck. He does this so forcefully that the female’s neck becomes very swollen and a bare patch of skin remains (for Australian colleagues, this then serves as a sign of successful mating). The most amazing thing is that sexual intercourse in these marsupials can last up to 24 hours. Sometimes males are so aggressive in mating that they kill their partner. If the female does not immediately agree to copulate, the male kills her almost immediately. Males literally exhaust themselves to death trying to produce as many matings as possible. Throughout the breeding season, they fight with competitors, eat little and hardly sleep. As a result, by the end of the year, the population of spotted marsupial martens may generally consist of only females and their cubs.

Reproduction

Length of pregnancy eastern quolls is 20-24 days. Females have a brood pouch, which develops only during the breeding season and opens back (at other times it looks like a fold of skin on the belly). Usually the cubs are born measuring 5 mm and weighing 12.5 mg and climb into their mother’s pouch on their own. Eastern quolls have 2 color phases - there are black and brown eastern quolls. In the Moscow Zoo, the female was brown, the male was black, so it is not surprising that some of the cubs were black, some were brown. Typically, a female gives birth to 4-8 cubs, although she can have up to 30 embryos. Since the actual size of the brood is limited to only six teats, only those cubs that can reach the pouch first will survive. The young remain in the pouch attached to the nipple for about 60-65 days and continue to develop in the burrow until the age of weaning, which occurs at 150-165 days. They develop wool at the age of 51-59 days; eyes open around 79 days; teeth begin to erupt around 90 days and finish only at 177 days. After 8 weeks, the cubs leave the pouch and the females take refuge in the den during the hunt. Starting from 85 days, when the cubs are already fully pubescent but still dependent on their mother, they hunt at night with her, often clinging to her back, but gradually the coordination of their movements improves and they become more and more independent. At the age of about 100 days, our cubs can already kill prey themselves, and before that the female helps them do this.

In nature, the mortality rate of cubs of both sexes is very low as long as they remain with their mother, but is very high in the first 6 months independent life. The cubs fully grow and become sexually mature by the end of the first year of life. In general, the lifespan of eastern quolls is relatively short compared to placental mammals of the same size. Although quolls can live up to 7 years in captivity (average 2 years 4 months), in the wild they live no more than 3-4 years.

Habitat and food

In nature, quolls inhabit predominantly wet areas. rain forests in river valleys, but can sometimes be found in gardens and even attics of suburban houses (especially in earlier times). They lead single and night image life. Speckled martens usually hunt on the ground, however, they are good at climbing trees. During the day, they seek refuge in crevices, piles of stones, tree hollows, under roots, abandoned holes and other secluded places. The animals lay out their place for daytime rest with bark and dry grass.

Quolls eat a wide range of foods: small mammals and birds, lizards and snakes, terrestrial crustaceans, insects and their larvae, earthworms, grass and fruits. Prey size should probably not exceed 1.5 kg, although quolls are quite capable of killing homemade chicken. Since these marsupials do not have adaptations for crushing large bones, they can only process the bones of small prey. In nature, marsupial martens usually feed on the carcasses of animals killed Tasmanian devils(the latter are capable of chewing the carcass of thick-skinned animals).

At first glance, it seems that the fur of this nimble animal is completely covered with snow, but this simply cannot be - where the spotted-tailed marsupial marten (lat. Dasyurus maculatus), it is considered very rare. This species lives in Australia, namely in two widely separated areas: in northern Queensland near Cooktown and Cairns, and also in east coast, covering an area from southern Queensland to Tasmania.

Other names for the species are giant marsupial marten. She became gigantic because she really has a decent size: her body length is about 60-75 cm plus a half-meter tail, which, like the body, is completely covered with white spots. The weight of the animal sometimes reaches 7 kg. If we add to this natural strength and agility, we can understand why various mammals predominate in the diet of the gigantic marsupial marten.

She especially loves to eat rabbits, but sometimes she is not averse to destroying a bird’s nest, eating not only eggs or chicks, but also their parents. The spotted-tailed marten sometimes even hunts herons or young wallabies. In addition, she happily eats reptiles and, thanks to her ability to climb trees, can catch a tree glider, which other marsupial predators cannot do.

By the way, its main food competitor is considered to be the marten, which from time to time robs the gigantic marten of its hard-caught prey. Feral cats that live in the forests of the Australian continent also interfere with the unfortunate animals, destroying local rats and mice, which martens like to snack on. But dingoes, on the contrary, help them feed themselves, leaving after their own meal decent pieces of caught game, which the martens eat.

As for communication with a person, we can say that it goes quite well. Local farmers are not too offended by spotted-tailed marsupial martens, even if they insidiously sneak into poultry houses. People understand very well how few of these nimble predators are left, and even try to lure them in order to have an excellent rat catcher in their own household. Gigantic martens are easily tamed, however, they do not live long in captivity - only 3-4 years.

They reach sexual maturity after the first year of life. However, even having reached marriageable age, they are in no hurry to find a permanent couple. Gigantic martens are polygamous; females look for partners once a year, choosing the beginning of winter for this. Although, in case of misfortune with the offspring, they are able to repeat the search in order to give birth to 4 to 6 cubs after a 21-day pregnancy.

At the age of 7-10 weeks, the mother already leaves them in the shelter, while she herself goes hunting. If there is a need to move them to a new place, the kids climb onto her back and boldly travel. By the end of spring (in November), young martens are usually 18 weeks old and become completely independent.

Spotted-tailed marsupial martens are listed in the IUCN Red List, where they are classified as a threatened species.

Speckled marsupial marten (lat. Dasyurus viverrinus) is a small animal from the family of predatory marsupials that lives in Tasmania. It was once common throughout southeastern Australia, but could not compete with foxes, cats and dogs brought to the mainland and disappeared by the middle of the 20th century.

In addition, the speckled marten hunted chickens, ducks and geese, which earned itself a sentence from people who destroyed uninvited guests with the help of traps and poisoned baits.

And in vain, because the marten could help them get rid of rodents, insects and other pests. However, the epizootic of 1901-1903. completed all the unpleasant work for people, significantly reducing the number of these animals.

The Aborigines called the marsupial marten "kuol", which means "tiger cat". It was this word that the first settlers heard and called the unusual animal quoll. Of course, the animal will not be able to take on a ferocious tiger, but with domestic cat it can be compared. In any case, their sizes are similar - the body length of the quoll is approximately 45 cm, the tail is 30 cm, the height at the withers is about 15 cm, and the weight is 1.5 kg.

The fur color of the marsupial marten can range from black to yellowish brown. Light spots scattered throughout the body different shapes, and on the head they are much smaller than on the back and sides. The tail is plain, without specks, the belly is light. The elongated muzzle ends in a reddish sharp nose, medium-sized ears have rounded tips.

Quolls are nocturnal. It is in the dark that they hunt small mammals and ground birds, look for their eggs and feast on insects. Sometimes they eat dead animals that the sea washed up on land. From time to time they pay visits to nearby farms, where they mercilessly strangle domestic animals and generally behave extremely indecently: some individuals even steal meat and fat directly from the kitchens of local residents.

Maybe that’s why their gait is creeping and extremely cautious, but their movements are lightning fast. Speckled marsupial martens most They spend time on the ground and climb trees poorly and reluctantly.

Unless they can climb up an inclined trunk if they really need to. When it gets especially hot, quolls huddle in caves, in crevices among stones and in tree hollows, where they drag soft, dry grass and bark.

Their breeding season lasts from May to September - during the Australian winter. One female usually gives birth to 4 or more cubs (in captivity there was even a case recorded when one lady brought 24 babies at once), but only those who were the first to reach the mother’s nipple and hang on it survive. In the bag speckled marten There are only 6 teats, so it's not hard to guess how many babies will survive.

The quoll's brood pouch has nothing in common with the kangaroo's: it develops only during the breeding season and is turned back towards the tail. The babies stay in it for about 8 weeks, and then hide in the den while the mother goes hunting.

If necessary, they travel on her back. At the age of 18-20 weeks, the grown quolls leave their mother. Speckled marsupial martens, along with other Australian species, are listed in the International Red Book.

Taxonomy of the genus Spotted marsupial martens:

Species: Dasyurus albopunctatus Schlegel, 1880 = New Guinea marsupial marten

Species: Dasyurus geoffroii Gould, 1841 = Black-tailed marsupial marten, Geoffroy's marsupial marten

Species: Dasyurus hallucatus Gould, 1842 = Northern marsupial marten

Species: Dasyurus maculatus Kerr, 1792 = Spotted-tailed marsupial marten or tiger cat

Species: Dasyurus spartacus Van Dyck, 1987 = Bronze marsupial marten

Species: Dasyurus viverrinus Shaw, 1800 = Speckled marsupial marten

Brief characteristics of the genus

Spotted marsupial martens (marsupial cats) are quite widespread in Australia, on the islands of Tasmania and New Guinea. The genus of these marsupial mammals, externally similar to cats and martens, unites six species.
For spotted marsupial martens, the characteristic length of the body is 25-74 cm, and the tail - 20-40 cm, sometimes 60. Weight, depending on the sex, varies from 1 to 3-6 kg. Females in this genus are somewhat smaller than males. The head can be small and blunt or pointed and short (depending on the species). The ears are small or medium in size. The presence of a first toe on the hind legs is characteristic (except for the speckled marsupial marten species), as well as plantar pads in spotted-tailed and dwarf marsupial martens. The molars, as well as the canines, are very well developed. Number of teeth - 42. The first upper incisor is sometimes separated by space from the other incisors. The canines and molars are highly developed. The number of chromosomes in a diploid set is 14.

Females have 6-8 nipples and a brood pouch, which develops only during the breeding season and opens backwards. At other times, it looks like a fold on the belly. The hair covering the body is thick, soft and short, and the hair on the tail is the same, but long. The characteristic white spots of irregular shape on the gray-yellow, gray-brown or gray-black back give the name to this genus. The belly of spotted marsupial martens is yellow, white or gray. The end of the muzzle is red.
Representatives of this genus prefer to settle in forests near the sea, sometimes in open areas. Inhabitants of forests and open plains, found in human settlements. Often found near human settlements. Marsupial cats- predatory animals with nocturnal activity. During the day, they seek shelter in crevices, piles of stones, tree hollows, under roots, abandoned holes and other secluded corners that they can find. The animals lay out their place for daytime rest with bark and dry grass. At night they hunt medium-sized mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, and insects. They also eat shellfish, carrion, and fruits. Although these marsupials are terrestrial animals, they are good tree climbers.
Spotted marsupial martens, living near people, steal meat, lard, and destroy poultry. Due to such actions, farmers often destroyed these animals in Australia, thereby causing significant harm to the population of this genus. Currently, Australian species are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Reproduction occurs once a year from May to July. In the speckled marsupial marten, the female usually gives birth to 4-8 cubs. There is a known case of one female giving birth to 24 cubs. The young leave their mother's nipples at about 8 weeks of age. Eyes open at 11 weeks. At 15 weeks they start eating meat. They begin to live independently at 4-4.5 months of age. By this time they reach a weight of 175 g. Spotted-tailed marsupial martens give birth to 4-6 cubs; pregnancy is about three weeks. At 4 weeks, the body length of the cubs reaches approximately 4 cm. At 7 weeks, the eyes open and they leave the mother's nipples. Become independent at 18 weeks of age

The name was given due to some similarities with real martens and cats. Also called "quolls". Body length 25-75 cm, tail 20-60 cm; weight varies from 900 g ( Dasyurus hallucatus) up to 4-7 kg ( Dasyurus maculatus). Females are smaller. The body hair is usually short, dense and soft; the tail is covered more long hair. The ears are relatively small. The color on the back and sides is from gray-yellow to black with numerous white spots; on the belly - white, gray or yellow. Females have 6-8 nipples. The brood pouch develops only during the breeding season and opens back towards the tail; the rest of the time it is represented by folds of skin that limit the milky field in front and on the sides. Well developed canines and molars.

6 species of this genus are distributed in Australia, Tasmania and Papua New Guinea. They live both in forests and on open plains. Their lifestyle is predominantly terrestrial, but they climb trees and rocks well. Active at night, rarely seen during the day. During the day, shelter is provided by cracks among stones, caves, and hollows of fallen trees, where marsupial martens drag dry grass and bark. Carnivorous, feeding on small mammals (the size of a rabbit), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, molluscs, freshwater crustaceans and insects; They also eat carrion and fruit. After the colonization of Australia, introduced species began to be hunted; on the one hand, marsupial martens cause some harm, destroying chicken coops (one of the reasons for the reduction in their numbers was their extermination by farmers), on the other hand, they are useful animals that destroy insect pests, rats, mice and rabbits. Outside the breeding season they lead a solitary lifestyle. They breed once a year, in the Australian winter - from May to July. Pregnancy lasts 16-24 days. There are 2-8 cubs in a litter, although there are up to 24-30. The number of marsupial martens in Australia has greatly decreased due to epizootics of the early 20th century, habitat destruction, extermination by humans and food competition with introduced predators (cats, dogs, foxes), but they are still quite numerous in Tasmania and New Guinea. All Australian species are listed in the International Red Book.

The striped marsupial marten is also called the only representative of the genus Myoictis.

Taxonomy

• Dasyurus albopunctatus- New Guinea marsupial marten, found in New Guinea;
• Dasyurus geoffroii- Geoffroy's marsupial marten has disappeared everywhere except the eucalyptus forests in the south-west of Western Australia, although it was originally widespread in eastern and southern Australia, as well as in the desert areas of Central Australia; listed in the IUCN Red List with the status “vulnerable”;
• Dasyurus hallucatus- dwarf, or northern, marsupial marten;
• Dasyurus maculatus- tiger marsupial marten;
• Dasyurus spartacus- bronze marsupial marten, found in New Guinea;
• Dasyurus viverrinus- speckled marsupial marten.

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See what “Marsupial marten” is in other dictionaries:

marsupial marten- juodauodegė sterbliakiaunė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Dasyurus geoffroyi engl. black tailed native cat; chuditch; western Australian native cat; western dasyure; western native cat vok.… … Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

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