The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a marsupial mammal, native to the island of Tasmania that belongs to Australia.
Also known as the Tasmanian devil, this animal is a symbol of the island where it lives and became popular as an inspiration for a children's cartoon character.
Tasmanian Devil Characteristics
The Tasmanian Devil can be considered an animal that physically resembles the bear, but beyond of the tail, its size is close to that of a medium-sized dog, reaching up to 80 cm and weighing 12 kg. Size and weight varies with diet and habitat.
It has short black hairs all over the body, and the neck region has a white band. Its head is relatively large compared to its body, with rounded ears and a sharp nose.
Tasmanian Devil Habitat
The Tasmanian Devil originates from an island of the same name located in Oceania, belonging to the Australian territory.
It can be found living in urban areas, but its preferred location is coastal forests and woods.
Records indicate that this marsupial mammal lived 3,000 years ago on the Australian mainland, but has gone extinct there.
Tasmanian Devil Behavior
The Tasmanian Devil is known for his aggressiveness and behavioral instability, especially when eating.
Fights between animals of the same species are common, and always with lots of screams and grunts that sound like barking.
They are animals that walk alone and have nocturnal habits, being able to travel more than 10 km in search of food, mainly. The moment you see a group of Tasmanian devils united is because they are feeding on the carcasses of other animals, but the possibility of fights and aggressions is not excluded.
Tasmanian Devil Feeding
The Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous animal that feeds on different small species such as rabbits, snakes, insect larvae, bird eggs and dead animals. In extreme cases where no food is found, they eat even dirt.
Its teeth are sharp and its jaw has great amplitude, which can reach up to 120 degrees and help to devour its prey. Furthermore, it has a lot of strength in the jaw and molar teeth that are capable of crushing the bones of its prey.
To find food, they mainly use their sight, smell and whiskers. It is currently considered the largest carnivorous marsupial.
Tasmanian Devil Reproduction
They are animals that mate once a year, with each litter having between 2 and 4 offspring.
As they are marsupial animals, the development of the offspring occurs inside the female's abdominal pouch, which occurs for an approximate period of up to four months. After this period, they are placed in nests or holes made by the female and, given the need for locomotion, the mother carries them on her back.
Puppies breastfeed until they are eight months old, after which they begin to consume other animals.
Extinction of the Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is an animal considered to be endangered, mainly because of the ever-increasing decline in its habitat.
Around 1940 the species was protected in order to avoid its extinction, helping the recovery of the number of animals, but currently, the Tasmanian devil has suffered from the emergence of a disease cancerous.
According to researchers, due to the high rate of the disease, it is estimated that between 20 to 50% of the population of devils is lost. It is estimated, therefore, that if no action is taken, the Tasmanian Devil could be extinguished within the next 15 to 25 years.
See also:
- Endangered animals in the world
- Extinct animals
Tasmanian Devil Trivia
Here are some fun facts about the Tasmanian devil:
- He gets this name because his grunts and screams are believed to resemble a screaming devil.
- This mammal became famous with the child character Taz.
- Females are usually larger than males.
- It is estimated that the Tasmanian Devil eats about 15% of his body weight daily.
- Kangaroos, koalas and possums belong to the same group.
