The Tasmanian devil is one animal that is difficult to miss. It has a famous bloodcurdling screech to go along with its bad temper and black color. But despite the fierce sound, the Tasmanian devil is no bigger than a small dog. The devils covered much of the continent with huge populations as recently as 400 years ago. Numerous fossils have been found that support this. Their reduction to the brink of extinction in Australia has been blamed on the spread of the dingo as well as increased aridity and human encroachment.
Of these, humans were probably the most responsible for the species decline. The early years of European immigration to Australia saw the Tasmanian devils considered a nuisance. In fact, many European settlers thought the creatures were devilish due to what seemed like weird behavior. A bounty scheme was quickly introduced. For every male Tasmanian devil one killed, there was a 25 cents reward while 35 cents was given for every female that was put down.
This continued for a while and saw a drastic decline in numbers before the practice was outlawed. From June 1941, the Tasmanian devil is protected by Australian law. As a result, their numbers grew again and peaked in the 1990s. In 1996, a new threat came to the fore in the form of the Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Their numbers have been on the decline since then. But despite these drawbacks, Tasmanian devil numbers are still substantial in the mountainous and coastal areas of Tasmania.
Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous marsupials. They have a completely black fur occasionally with white mark on the chest and rump. The adult body size of a Tasmanian devil is in direct correlation to the dietary richness of its habitat. An adult devil can weigh up to 12 kilograms and grow to a height of 30 centimeters.
The devils mate in March each year. Their gestation period is 21 days meaning they give birth in the month of April. During the gestation period, the offspring are usually carried in the mother’s pouch. The baby remains there for four more months until it is old enough to be left in the den. An adult female Tasmanian devil can carry up to four offspring in its pouch. The offspring attain adult hood at two years and can live for up to 8 years.
Tasmanian devils are scavengers as they feed on almost any available food they happen on. They have strong teeth and jaws that equip them to devour not just the meat but their prey’s bones and fur as well. Tasmanian devils mostly feed on small mammals, birds, amphibians, sea squirts and even insects. The devils exhibit hostile behavior during communal feeding. The rowdy noise made is meant to be a show of dominance to other pack members.
Tasmanian devils are nocturnal and hide in their dens during the day. Young devils are more flexible and can climb trees. When subjected to stress or an external threat, Tasmanian devils emit a strong odor.
Back to the Australian animals overview
References:
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5358KH
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Devil
