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When angry its ears go red which could be another reason why it got its ‘devilish’ name. It will open its mouth when scared or uncertain, rather than as a sign of aggression. Fierce noises such as harsh coughs, snarls and high pitched screeches are used in defence.
The Tasmanian Devil is the world’s largest living carnivorous marsupial and is nocturnal (active at night). It is about the size of a small dog and has a strong, stocky body, with a large, broad head and a short, thick tail. The body is black with white markings on the chest and rump, though some can be entirely black. Males grow larger than females and have a broader, thicker neck and larger head. Males weigh between 9-12kg and females between 7-9kg.
Tasmanian Devils travel through dense vegetation or along tracks in the forest. When they run, their hind feet are kept together in a hopping type action. Young devils are very good climbers in comparison to the adults.
Breeding season occurs each March and the young are born in April. The gestation period is around 21days. The mother will give birth to between 20-40 young, although there is only four teats in the backward facing pouch. The average number of young to survive is two or three. The remaining young are eaten by the mother The pouch is an ‘open’ pouch not the pocket-like pouch on a kangaroo. The young Tasmanian Devils will remain in the pouch until August, after which they are left in the den. By January they are ready to leave the den.
Females start to breed when they are about two years old. Both sexes are fully grown by two or three years of age and live for up to eight years.
Once found on mainland Australia, this animal can now only be found in Tasmania. The Devil is found all over the island but mostly in eucalypt forests and coastal woodlands. It is thought that the introduction of the dingo was responsible for the extinction of the mainland Tasmanian Devil.
The Tasmanian Devil usually lives in burrows, but can also be found resting in hollow logs. It is not strictly territorial and it will occupy a home range of 8-20 square kilometres which will overlap with other Tasmanian Devils’ home ranges. It travels at a slow trot, and an individual Tasmanian Devil can cover around eight kilometres in one night!
 The Tasmanian Devil is mainly a scavenger. It can quickly locate dead animals in the forest, along roadsides and along the beach by using its keen sense of smell. Its diet includes wallabies, various small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. It will even scavenge dead fish from the beach. Individuals can eat up to 3-4 kg of food in one night. Using its powerful jaws and sharp teeth, the Tasmanian Devil eats the whole animal, fur, bones and all. A family of Tasmanian Devils have been known to eat a whole dead horse, only leaving the tail and skull. By eating dead animals that otherwise would be left to rot, the Tasmanian Devil helps keep the bushland clean. Tasmanian Devils often feed in groups which can become extremely noisy as they each fight over the food. During the meal, displays of dominance occur among the males.Since June 1941, the Tasmanian Devil has been a protected species. Prior to this it was hunted by farmers who thought that the Tasmanian Devil was a sheep and lamb killer. In the 1830s hunters were paid a bounty of 35 cents for killing females and 25 cents for males. Today, the number of Tasmanian Devils remains steady and its status is common in Tasmania.
Over the past few years, a fatal condition in wild Tasmanian Devils known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease has been observed. The disease is characterised by the appearance of facial tumours or cancers, which are first noticed in and around the mouth as small lesions or lumps.
This disease was first noticed in the north-east of Tasmania in the mid-1990s but has become more prevalent in recent times in other areas of the state. In the areas already surveyed, the disease has the most dramatic effect in those with high-density populations with up to 100% mortality of resident devils in 12-18 months.
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Animal Fact Sheets - Want to learn more about some of Australasia's unique fauna? Take a look at these fact sheets. Great for school projects! |
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Regional Education Policy - This policy produced by the education group is a formulation of principles, guidelines and minimum standards for education for the many different sectors involved in zoos, parks and aquaria. |
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Education Specialist Advisory Group - An overview of ARAZPA and education. Learn about the activities of the ARAZPA Education Specialist Advisory Group. | |