The Tasmanian Devil is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial in Australia. Males are usually larger than females. Males have a body length of 652 mm, with a 258 mm tail. Females have a body length of 570 mm, with a 244 mm tail. The fur is usually black with irregular white patches on the chest. The Tasmanian devil has a large head and a short stubby tail. The devil has long whiskers on its face. They are also nocturnal. A devil has one set of teeth that grows slowly throughout its life.

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Tasmanian devils are found in the state of Tasmania. Devils can climb trees and can swim. Climbing trees for the devils gets harder as they grow larger. They take over territories of 8-20 km. They are solitary animals and they do not form packs. Even though devils are nocturnal, they do enjoy basking in the sun. The population of the Tasmanian devil decreased in the late 1900's because of a facial tumor disease. Because of this, the Tasmanian devil is close to being endangered.
 

The first Tasmanian settlers ate Tasmanian devils, which they described as tasting like veal. After the last Thylacine, a carnivorous marsupial, was killed, the threat to the devil was recognized. The law protected the Tasmanian devil in 1941 and the population slowly recovered.
 

The Tasmanian devil eats wallabies, wombats, sheep, birds, insects, frogs, and reptiles. On average, they eat about 15% of their body weight each day. They can also eat 40% their body weight in 30 minutes if they find much food. Tasmanian devils eat all traces of carcass. The devils predator is the dingo. What I learned about Tasmanian devils are that they are nocturnal, they don't form into packs and they are close to being endangered.

  

Author: Stanley W
Published: 05/2007

 

Sources: Photo Credit: Taken with Nikon D100 on Tasman Peninsula at Tasmanian Devil Park by Wayne McLean