Spotted marsupial marten - the cutest creature from Tasmania (16 photos). marsupial marten. Lifestyle and habitat of the marsupial marten Speckled marsupial marten interesting facts

Many species of flora and fauna have been introduced, gradually dying out according to different reasons. This category includes one of the largest marsupial predators living on the Australian continent, marsupial marten.

She is ranked second in size after. Otherwise, it is also called a marsupial cat. The marten acquired these names because of its many similarities, both with and with the cat. They are also called native cats. marsupial marten feeds flesh, so she, along with the devil, are considered natural predators.

Description and features of the marsupial marten

Average length adult mottled marsupial marten ranges from 25 to 75 cm. Her tail stretches another 25-30 cm. The male is usually larger than the female. In females spotted marsupial martens there are 6 nipples and a pouch for the offspring, which become larger during the breeding season.

At other times, these are just slightly noticeable folds on the skin. They open back towards the tail. Only one species spotted marsupial marten the brood bag is kept in an unchanged working condition for all year round.

This peculiar animal has a long muzzle with a bright pink nose and small ears. In the photo of marsupial marten her fur is striking. It is brown or black with whitish spots, short.

Differs in the increased density and simultaneous softness. On the belly of the marten, the tone of the wool is lighter, it is white or light yellow. The coat on the tail is fluffier than on the body. The color of the muzzle of the animal is dominated by red and burgundy tones. The limbs of the marten are small with well-developed fingers.

Spotted marsupial marten of Australia - it is the largest species of marten . Her body reaches up to 75 cm in length, the length of the tail is added to it, which is usually 35 cm.

Her tail is also evenly covered with white spots. The forest regions of the Eastern and the territory of the Tasman Islands are the most favorite places of this animal. It's ferocious and strong predator.

One of the smallest is considered the striped marsupial marten, whose length together with the tail is only 40 cm. It can be found in the lowland forests of New Guinea, on the islands of Salavati and Aru.

Lifestyle and habitat

This interesting animal makes its shelters in hollows fallen trees which insulates with dry grass and bark. They can serve as a shelter and cracks between stones, empty holes and other abandoned corners that they find.

Martens show their activity to a greater extent at night. In the daytime, they prefer to sleep in secluded places where extraneous sounds do not reach. They can easily move not only on the ground, but also on trees. There are frequent cases when they can be found near human dwellings.

The black-tailed marsupial marten prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle. Each adult has its own personal space. Often the area belonging to males intersects with the area of ​​females. They have one area for toilets.

Speckled marsupial marten also prefers nightlife day. At night it is much easier for them to hunt mammals and look for their eggs and feast on them. Sometimes they eat animals thrown out by the sea.

Those martens that get close to farms can ruthlessly strangle animals, and sometimes even steal directly from the kitchen. local resident meat, fats and other food supplies.

Martens have a crouching and very cautious gait, but at the same time sharp and lightning-fast movements. They prefer to move on the ground rather than in the trees. But if the situation requires it, then they deftly move along the tree and quietly, imperceptibly approach their prey.

With increased heat, animals try to hide in secluded cool places and wait out the time of the scorching sun. The speckled marsupial marten lives in the sandy plains and hilly areas of Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania.

Food marsupial marten

As already mentioned, marsupial martens are predatory animals. They love the meat of birds, insects, shellfish, fish and other amphibians. It is important that their prey is not too large sizes.

Large and tough only for martens of large sizes. Animals do not refuse carrion either. This happens at a time when food is very tight. Sometimes the animals dilute their daily diet with fresh fruit.

During the hunt for prey, martens stubbornly pursue their prey and pounce on it, closing their jaws on the animal's neck. From such a stranglehold it is already impossible to escape anywhere.

Often, marsupial martens' favorite delicacy is homemade, which they steal from farms. This prank is forgiven by some farmers, they even tame them and make them pets.

Martens that live at home are happy to exterminate and. They replenish their water balance with food, so they do not drink too much.

Reproduction and lifespan

The breeding season for marsupial martens falls on the months of May-July. These animals breed once a year. Pregnancy lasts about 21 days. After that, from 4 to 8 babies are born, sometimes more.

There was one case when one female gave birth to 24 cubs. Up to 8 weeks, babies are fed breast milk. Until 11 weeks old, they are completely blind and defenseless. From 15 weeks of age, they begin to taste meat. Live independent life babies can in 4-5 months. By this age, their weight reaches up to 175 g.

In the photo, young marsupial martens

The cubs stay in the female's pouch for up to 8 weeks. At the 9th week, they move from this secluded place to the mother's back, where they remain for another 6 weeks. Puberty in these amazing animals occurs at 1 year.

The life expectancy of martens in nature and captivity is not very different. They live approximately 2 to 5 years. The number of these animals is significantly reduced due to the vital activity of people, who every year more and more destroy the area of ​​​​their existence. Many martens are killed by disgruntled farmers, leading them to extinction.

The speckled marsupial marten belongs to the family of carnivorous marsupials. These animals live in Tasmania. Once these martens lived throughout southeastern Australia, but foxes, dogs and cats brought to the mainland in the 20th century exterminated speckled marsupial martens.

In addition, these animals hunted domestic birds, in connection with which people began to destroy them by setting traps and laying out poisoned baits.

And this is completely in vain, since martens destroy rodents, insects and other pests. However, in 1901 an epidemic occurred, and it completed their work for the people - the number of speckled marsupial martens was significantly reduced.

The locals called these animals "kuol", which translates as "cat-tiger", and the settlers, having heard this name, began to call the speckled martens "kwolls". Naturally, the speckled marsupial marten is very far from the bloodthirsty tiger, but with domestic cat he has a lot in common. First of all, they have almost identical dimensions - the body length of the marten is about 45 centimeters, the height at the withers is 15 centimeters, the tail length is 30 centimeters, and the weight is about 1.5 kilograms.

The color of this animal varies from yellowish brown to black. The whole body is strewn with light spots, various forms, while the spots on the back and sides are much larger than on the head.

The tail has a solid color without specks. The belly is light. The muzzle of the speckled marten is elongated with a cute sharp nose. The ears are medium in size, rounded.

These animals lead night image life, in the dark it is easier for them to catch a small mammal, ground bird or destroy the nest. In addition, quolls feed on insects, sometimes consuming carrion. From time to time they raid farms, where they strangle any birds that come across. Particularly courageous individuals are not afraid to sneak into a dwelling and steal food directly from the kitchens.

Due to their lifestyle, speckled martens have a very cautious stalking gait, but they can also make lightning-fast and jerky movements. Most These animals spend their lives on the ground, they climb trees very reluctantly, they do it poorly.

Listen to the voice of the marsupial marten

If there is an urgent need, then the marten can climb the sloping trunk. In too hot time, the animals hide in caves, in tree trunks, between stones. Martens drag bark and grass into these shelters, building nests.

The breeding season runs from May to September. During this period it is winter in Australia. One female gives birth to more than 4 babies, in captivity one speckled marsupial marten gave birth to 24 cubs. But, unfortunately, only those babies survive who are the first to find the nipple and attach to it, and there are only 6 nipples in the mother's pouch, therefore, only 6 of the strongest cubs survive.

The brood pouch of these martens is completely different from the kangaroo pouch: it is formed only during the breeding season, and is turned towards the tail. The babies do not leave the mother's pouch for about 8 weeks, after which they sit in the den while the female hunts.

The speckled marsupial marten is another the brightest representative wildlife of Australia. More recently, it was distributed everywhere, but due to human intervention in places of its natural habitat, as well as uncontrolled hunting, the marsupial marten population has declined sharply, and today it can be found only in Tasmania. Played a huge role in this bad character the marten itself, which actively destroyed domestic chickens and ducks. The farmers had no choice but to set traps on her and throw poisoned baits. But the main reason for the decrease in the marsupial marten population is the wide distribution infectious disease, which completed the work begun by people. Such a sharp decrease in the number of animals led to an increase in the number of rodents and harmful insects, which the marten actively destroyed.

The locals call the marsupial marten "kuol", which translates as a tiger - a cat. And there is nothing strange in this. His appearance and habits she resembles a cat, and a speckled body - a tiger. The body length of an adult animal is less than half a meter. The height at the withers is not more than 15 centimeters. The predator weighs about two kilograms.

The body is covered with thick fur. Depending on the halo, it can be either brown or black, with a number of irregularly shaped light spots. They are absent only on the tail of the animal. A small, neat, and slightly elongated muzzle ends with a red nose. The ears are small and slightly rounded.

The speckled marsupial marten is a nocturnal animal. She rests during the day and goes hunting at night. Her diet includes: birds and their eggs, insects, small mammals, rodents, carrion. It can climb into people's dwellings and steal food stored for the winter. At the same time, the marten tries to remain invisible and act with lightning speed. A predator can also climb trees, but it does it clumsily and extremely rarely. During the day, the marten hides in caves, in rocky crevices, in empty hollows of trees, abandoned earthen burrows.

Can breed from early spring to late autumn. The brood pouch of the female, in which the babies are located, has only six nipples. For this reason, only six cubs survive. The rest just die. As for the brood pouch itself, it appears in the female only during her pregnancy. Born babies stay in it for two months, and then move to the den. At the age of six months they become completely independent.

Currently, the speckled marsupial marten is listed in the Red Book and is under state protection.

The spotted marsupial marten, which is also called the marsupial cat, is a member of the carnivorous marsupial family. It lives in Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania and forms a genus consisting of 6 species. Of these, 4 species live in Australia, and 2 in New Guinea. In addition, 2 fossil species are known, whose remains were found in Queensland. Species vary in size and weight, which ranges from 300 g to 7 kg.

The body length of adults is 25-75 cm. The hairy tail is 20-35 cm long. Males are larger than females. The latter have 6 nipples and brood bags, which acquire volumetric forms during the breeding season. The rest of the time they are folds on the skin. The bags open back towards the tail. The only exception is one species - spotted-tailed marsupial martens. They have a well-defined pouch all year round.

The muzzle is long, the nose is bright pink, the ears are small. The coat is soft, thick, short and has a brown or black color on the back and sides, diluted with white spots. The belly is white or light yellow. As for weight, it varies markedly depending on the species. Basically, males weigh up to 1.3 kg, and females up to 0.9 kg. The largest species is the spotted marsupial marten. Males weigh about 7 kg, and females 4 kg. The smallest is the northern marsupial marten. The weight of males is 400-900 g, and the mass of females is 300-500 g.

Reproduction and lifespan

The breeding season is winter months(in southern hemisphere winter in June-August). Pregnancy in females is 3 weeks. At this time, the folds on the abdomen are transformed into a pouch. There are up to 18 cubs in a litter. They are small and about the size of a grain of rice. During the first 2 weeks, no more than 6 cubs remain alive, since the female has only 6 nipples.

Babies sit in their mother's pouch for 8 weeks. During the 9th week, they move from the bag to the back, where they remain for another 6 weeks. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 1 year. AT wild nature The spotted marsupial marten lives from 2 to 5 years. Large species live longer than small ones. In captivity, life expectancy is 3-4 years.

Behavior and nutrition

These are nocturnal animals. They rarely search for prey during the daytime. They are mostly terrestrial, but are often found in trees. The lair is arranged in caves, among stones, in hollow logs. Single lifestyle. Each adult has its own territory. At the same time, the territories of males often overlap with the territories of females. Remarkable common areas for toilets. Sometimes they have up to 100 litters. During the breeding season, males bond with females.

The diet consists of small mammals, not exceeding the size of rabbits, but it all depends on the size of marsupial predators. Smaller species mainly eat insects, birds, frogs, lizards, and fruits. And here large species they eat echidnas, opossums, hares, rats, mice, birds and reptiles. In times of famine, carrion is eaten. Animals chase their prey while hunting. Having caught up, they jump on it and close their jaws on the victim's neck. They drink little, getting water from food.

Representatives of the species are suffering from urbanization, housing construction, the expansion of agricultural fields and development mining industry. Habitats are destroyed by large herbivores, trampling grass and thickets. As a result, the number of spotted marsupial martens has declined markedly in Australia. These animals are listed in the Red Book. As for New Guinea and Tasmania, the animals feel safer there, and their numbers do not cause serious concern.

(Dasyurus viverrinus ) - an animal the size of a small cat; body length - 45 cm, tail - up to 30 cm, weight - up to 1.5 kg. Fur color varies from black to yellowish brown; white spots cover the entire body, except for fluffy tail which has a white tip. The muzzle is pointed. Unlike other species of spotted marsupial martens, the quoll lacks first toes on its hind limbs.

Speckled Marten in the Moscow Zoo

Quolls were once common in southeastern Australia, but after the epizootic -1903 and as a result of uncontrolled extermination, their number began to decline, and now they have practically disappeared on the continent (the last quolls were seen in the suburb of Sydney Vaucluse in the 60s of the XX century); however, they are still common in Tasmania. Quolls are found mainly in moist rainforests, in river valleys, where the rainfall exceeds 600 mm per year; although until the 1930s In the 20th century, they could often be found in gardens and even attics of suburban houses. The way of life is solitary and nocturnal. They usually hunt on the ground, but they are good at climbing trees. The main food of the quoll is insect pests. After colonizing Australia, they began to prey on poultry, rabbits, rats and mice and exterminated by farmers for the ruin of poultry houses. The main food competitor of the quoll is