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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(2)

Predation of the northern quoll by the Pilbara olive python

Ryan J. Ellis A B * , Christopher G. Knuckey A , Judy Dunlop https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4842-0672 C and Georgeanna Story D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Biologic Environmental, 24–26 Wickham Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia.

B Collections and Research, Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia.

C School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

D Scats About, PO Box 45, Majors Creek, NSW 2622, Australia.

E Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

* Correspondence to: ryan@biologicenv.com.au

Handling Editor: Ross Goldingay

Australian Mammalogy 47, AM25002 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM25002
Submitted: 20 January 2025  Accepted: 6 July 2025  Published: 24 July 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

Little is known about predator–prey interactions between many native predator species occupying the same habitats. Interaction between native predators is generally not well documented, given their often cryptic occurrence and infrequent overlapping ecological niches or activity periods they occupy. Here we report on an occurrence of predation of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) by another native predator in the Pilbara region, the Pilbara olive python (Liasis olivaceus barroni).

Keywords: Dasyuridae, diet, hair analysis, Pilbara, predation, Pythonidae, scat analysis, threatened species.

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