The dasyurids are the carnivorous marsupials of south-western Australia — a remarkable group of small but fierce predators that punch well above their weight. From the acrobatic phascogales of the jarrah forest to the spotted Chuditch prowling the wheatbelt at night, dasyurids are some of the most exciting mammals you can encounter after dark in WA. Many of these species have declined significantly since European settlement due to predation by foxes and cats, and several are now threatened. Finding them in the wild takes patience and local knowledge — but it is very rewarding when you do. The Numbat has its own dedicated page — see the link at the bottom of this page.
Brush-tailed Phascogale (Wambenger) — Phascogale tapoatafa
Known in Noongar as Wambenger, the Brush-tailed Phascogale is a striking arboreal marsupial with a distinctive bottle-brush tail. Found in areas of jarrah forest, they have large home ranges and are genuinely difficult to find. They are fast, cryptic, and spend most of their time in the canopy. Conservation status: Least Concern nationally, though locally impacted by habitat loss and predation.
Where to find Wambenger
- Mundaring — I found one here after reading reports through a variety of sources. See the blog post for details.
- Island Point Nature Reserve — in the Mandurah region, this is a relatively accessible location closer to Perth than many other sites. Worth trying on a spotlighting evening.
- Paganoni Swamp — reported but not confirmed by me.
- Jarrah Forest broadly — range across suitable jarrah habitat in the Perth Hills and south-west.
- Contos campground — reported location in the south-west.
Red-tailed Phascogale (Kenngoor) — Phascogale calura
Known in Noongar as Kenngoor, the Red-tailed Phascogale is rarer and smaller than its brush-tailed cousin. It moves extremely fast — harder to photograph than almost anything else I’ve tried to find. The key habitat is stands of sheoak (Allocasuarina) — if you find good sheoak with fallen logs and dense understorey, you are in Kenngoor country. They seem to strongly dislike white light; a red spotlight makes a significant difference to how long they stay visible. Conservation status: Vulnerable — a species of real conservation concern that has contracted significantly from its historical range.
Where to find Kenngoor
- Dryandra Woodland — found in the sandalwood plantation and near sheoak stands. See this Dryandra spotlighting post and this Mardo at Dryandra post. One was also seen near Gnaala Mia Campground by the sheoak on the main road — see this Dryandra & Boyagin post.
- Tutanning Nature Reserve — found in a small sheoak stand, which fits perfectly with the habitat preference. See this Tutanning post.
Chuditch (Western Quoll) — Dasyurus geoffroii
The Chuditch is the Noongar name for the Western Quoll — a name early European colonisers replaced with “native cat”, partly because it raided chicken coops and was seen as a pest. It is the largest dasyurid in WA — a spotted, cat-sized predator that is genuinely thrilling to encounter after dark. I found it very difficult to find my first one. Patience and the right location are essential. Conservation status: Vulnerable — once widespread across most of Australia, the Chuditch is now largely restricted to south-western WA following dramatic declines caused by foxes, cats and habitat loss.
Where to find Chuditch
- Dryandra Woodland — this is where I saw my first Chuditch. See the Dryandra spotlighting post for details. Jimmy also saw one on my second visit — Dryandra & Boyagin post. There are also reports of a habituated Chuditch visiting the Gnaala Mia campground area — I haven’t seen it there yet but it’s worth keeping an eye out after dark.
- Perup — a reliable area for Chuditch in the south-west.
- Boyagin Nature Reserve — I have not seen here but camera trap evidence from the Boyagin Boys confirms presence.
- Lane Poole Reserve — I have not seen but advice given around the “Chuditch” campsite area.
- Julimar Forest — camera trap evidence confirms Chuditch are present. I tried once but found the tracks too rough for a light SUV — a capable 4WD is recommended. Worth pursuing if you have the right vehicle.
Mardo (Yellow-footed Antechinus) — Antechinus flavipes
Known in Noongar as Mardo, the Yellow-footed Antechinus is a small, quick-moving marsupial that can easily be overlooked or mistaken for a mouse. They are insectivorous and surprisingly bold once they get used to your presence. Like all antechinus species, the males die after a frenzied mating season — one of the more remarkable life history strategies in Australian mammals. Conservation status: Least Concern — but still a special find in the field.
Interestingly, Mardo can sometimes be seen during the day — unusual for a dasyurid. My dedicated Mardo post was a daytime encounter at Dryandra, and on my most recent Dryandra family trip in June 2026 we spotted one on a log during a morning drive and got video footage. So while they are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, keep your eyes open during the day too.
Numbat (Noombat) — Myrmecobius fasciatus
The Numbat — known in Noongar as Noombat — is WA’s state faunal emblem and one of the most beautiful mammals in Australia. It is the only member of its own family (Myrmecobiidae) and feeds exclusively on termites. Unlike all other dasyurids it is diurnal, making it uniquely accessible to wildlife watchers during the day. It has its own dedicated page covering conservation status, all known locations and practical tips for finding one:
Dasyurids FAQ
What are dasyurids?
Dasyurids are the family of carnivorous marsupials found across Australia and New Guinea. In south-western WA the family includes phascogales, the Chuditch (Western Quoll) and the Mardo (Yellow-footed Antechinus). They range from mouse-sized to cat-sized and are all predators or insectivores. Most are nocturnal and secretive, making them challenging but rewarding to find in the field.
Are there dasyurids near Perth?
Yes – the Brush-tailed Phascogale (Wambenger) can be found in the Perth Hills around Mundaring, and at Island Point Nature Reserve in the Mandurah region. The Red-tailed Phascogale and Chuditch require a longer drive to areas like Dryandra Woodland, roughly 2.5 hours south-east of Perth.
Where is the best place to see a Chuditch near Perth?
Dryandra Woodland National Park is the most reliable site I’ve found. It’s about 2.5 hours from Perth and well worth an overnight stay for spotlighting. The Where to See Wildlife in WA guide has more information on planning a Dryandra trip. Perup in the south-west is another strong option but requires more travel.
What is the most threatened dasyurid in WA?
The Red-tailed Phascogale (Kenngoor) is Vulnerable and has contracted significantly from its historical range. The Chuditch is also Vulnerable. Both are now largely absent from areas where foxes are not controlled. For the Numbat see the dedicated Numbat page.
What is the best time to see dasyurids?
After dark is best for phascogales, Chuditch and Mardo – all are primarily nocturnal though Mardo can occasionally be seen during the day. A spotlight or headtorch is essential; a thermal camera is a significant advantage for detecting animals before they detect you. For Red-tailed Phascogales specifically, use red light rather than white – they seem far more tolerant of it. Look for sheoak stands as a key habitat indicator for Kenngoor.
Further Reading
- Numbat — Where to Find Them in Western Australia — dedicated page for WA’s state emblem
- Dryandra Spotlighting — Mammal Heaven — my most productive night for dasyurids including Chuditch and Red-tailed Phascogale
- Mardo at Dryandra — a dedicated post on finding Yellow-footed Antechinus
- Dryandra with the Kids — Numbats, Mardo, Echidnas and a Near-Miss Woylie — daytime Mardo video and Numbat mum with joeys
- Looking for Wambenger — finding Brush-tailed Phascogale in the Perth Hills
- Where to See Wildlife in Western Australia — full location index including all dasyurid sites
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