Butchers of the bush: life history, environmental risk and conservation of Victoria’s marsupial carnivores

Victoria is home to 13 of the 72 living marsupial carnivores belonging to the family Dasyuridae. These species exhibit a remarkable range of sizes, from the minute Giles’ Planigale (Planigale gilesi) weighing ~6 g to the robust Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), which can reach up to 5 kg. They occur in a wide range of habitats across the state, range in conservation status from least concern to extinct in the wild, and exhibit some interesting and unusual reproductive traits. This paper provides concise life histories, highlights the risks to these ecologically integral species from a rapidly changing environment, and outlines conservation efforts to ensure the continued survival of marsupial carnivores in Victoria. We aim to present this information in an accessible and easily usable format across species to provide a comprehensive understanding of their distinct challenges and conservation needs.