Spotted-tailed quoll
Science
Learning intentions
Students are learning:
To recognise the spotted-tailed quoll.
What adaptations spotted-tailed quolls have that help them thrive in their environment.
About the biggest threats to spotted-tailed quolls are and ways to help protect them in the wild.
Teacher information
In these activities, students will learn about the spotted-tailed quoll, a small carnivorous marsupial found around Sydney and the East coast of NSW. Students will learn about what makes this relatively unknown marsupial so unique, how it is adapted to its environment and what threats have led this animal to be listed as vulnerable in NSW.
Non-digital Lesson: Not online? Download the lesson here.
Stage: S3 KLA: Science - Living World - ST3-4LW-S
Interesting fact: Spotted-tailed quolls are often referred to as a tiger quolls.
Task 1: What is a quoll?
Activity 1: Watch this video to learn more about quolls.
Activity 2: Read this information sheet about quolls and make some summary notes on what you have discovered.
quoll info sheet.pdfActivity 3: What have you learned about quolls? Test your knowledge by taking this quiz!
Task 2: What is an adaptation?
Activity 1: Watch this video to understand the different types of adaptations animals can have.
Stop the video after the first 2 minutes and make some notes on the different types of adaptations: behavioural, structural and physiological.
Watch the full video to the end to see some examples of different animals’ adaptations. Choose an example of an adaptation for each of the 3 categories.
Adaptations in action.movTask 3: Draw a spotted-tailed quoll
Watch this video and follow along to draw your own spotted quoll!
Task 4: How can we help increase spotted-tailed quoll numbers in the wild?
Spotted-tailed quoll populations are dropping in Australia and one of the ways to increase quoll numbers is to reintroduce quolls to areas where they were previously found.
Activity 1: Watch this video to see a story about relocating eastern quolls.
Activity 2: Education campaign for the community about quolls
Another way we can help quolls in the wild is through community education.
Put together a product to educate people in your local community about quolls and ways in which they can help protect them. You might like to design a poster, diorama, movie, news report, model or cartoon.