The Tasmainian Devil is the worlds largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.
Born with 50 other rice sized imps, Tasmanian Devils must race down a 3 inch tube from the birth canal to the mothers rear facing pouch, where the Tasmanian Devils must compete to get one of the four teats. only these four imps will survive, but have to hold on the the teats for 100 days without letting go! These endangered mammals are born to fight!
Born with 50 other rice sized imps, Tasmanian Devils must race down a 3 inch tube from the birth canal to the mothers rear facing pouch, where the Tasmanian Devils must compete to get one of the four teats. only these four imps will survive, but have to hold on the the teats for 100 days without letting go! These endangered mammals are born to fight!
Habitat
Once found throughout Australia, Tasmanian Devils are now only found on the offshore island of Tasmania. They live in a range of environments, including eucalyptus forest, woodlands, coastal scrubland and agricultural areas. Tasmanian Devils shelter under rocks, in caves, bushes, old Wombat burrows and hollow logs. Description Male Tasmanian Devils are about 12kg and 30cm at the shoulder. Females are smaller than males. Tasmanian Devils have brown or black fur and most have a white stripe or patch on their chest and light spots on their sides and rear end. However, about 16% of Tasmanian Devils have no white markings at all. They have a stocky appearance and longer front legs than back, giving them a piglike gait. Tasmanian Devils have an oversized head, neck and jaws. |
Random Facts
Tasmanian Devils are solitary by nature but will share a large carcass. They are mostly nocturnal. Tasmanian Devils will sneeze before a fight, but will prefer to stand nose-to-nose until one, or both, back down. During this encounter their ears will go red! Tasmanian Devils will produce a foul odour when they are stressed. |
Diet
Tasmanian Devils mostly eat carrion but will also hunt live animals like birds and small mammals. They can cover up to 16km a night in their search for food and make an eerie growl while hunting.
Threats
Approximately 3,500 years ago, Tasmanian Devils were slowly pushed out of mainland Australia because of competition from the introduced Dingo. Tasmanian Devils were then hunted by settlers in the 1800's because they attacked poultry and were thought to be dangerous pests. This made the numbers decline quite rapidly. In 1941 Tasmanian Devils were placed under legal protection.
Current threats to Tasmanian Devils on Tasmania include attacks by foxes and domestic dogs, being hit by cars and disease. The largest predator in the Tasmanian Devils ecosystem is the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, which provides competition for food. Tasmanian Devils are also facing a disease to which there is no known cure. The disease is called the Devil facial tumor disease and is a rare, contagious cancer. The disease, which mainly effect adults, is spread through biting, which is common during mating and feeding. All infected Tasmanian Devils die within 6-12 months of contracting the disease.
How to help?
The hunting of Tasmanian Devils is now illegal and a lot of farmers appreciate the Tasmanian Devil because they help reduce pest numbers in their crops. Tasmania has a Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme (STDP) that works to conserve Tasmanian Devils. Captive breeding programmes are also helping to increase the population and researches are working on a vaccine for the Devil facial tumour disease.
Tasmanian Devils mostly eat carrion but will also hunt live animals like birds and small mammals. They can cover up to 16km a night in their search for food and make an eerie growl while hunting.
Threats
Approximately 3,500 years ago, Tasmanian Devils were slowly pushed out of mainland Australia because of competition from the introduced Dingo. Tasmanian Devils were then hunted by settlers in the 1800's because they attacked poultry and were thought to be dangerous pests. This made the numbers decline quite rapidly. In 1941 Tasmanian Devils were placed under legal protection.
Current threats to Tasmanian Devils on Tasmania include attacks by foxes and domestic dogs, being hit by cars and disease. The largest predator in the Tasmanian Devils ecosystem is the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, which provides competition for food. Tasmanian Devils are also facing a disease to which there is no known cure. The disease is called the Devil facial tumor disease and is a rare, contagious cancer. The disease, which mainly effect adults, is spread through biting, which is common during mating and feeding. All infected Tasmanian Devils die within 6-12 months of contracting the disease.
How to help?
The hunting of Tasmanian Devils is now illegal and a lot of farmers appreciate the Tasmanian Devil because they help reduce pest numbers in their crops. Tasmania has a Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme (STDP) that works to conserve Tasmanian Devils. Captive breeding programmes are also helping to increase the population and researches are working on a vaccine for the Devil facial tumour disease.
References
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_devil
Auckland Zoo - https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/tasmanian-devil
National Geographic - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/tasmanian-devil
San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/tasmanian-devil
Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/animal/Tasmanian-devil
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/40540/10331066
Tasmanian Government (STDP) - https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/save-the-tasmanian-devil-program
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_devil
Auckland Zoo - https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/tasmanian-devil
National Geographic - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/tasmanian-devil
San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/tasmanian-devil
Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/animal/Tasmanian-devil
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/40540/10331066
Tasmanian Government (STDP) - https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/save-the-tasmanian-devil-program