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This Tasmanian Devil was photographed at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, Queensland. During the day they spend most of their time asleep.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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Tasmanian Devil
Photograph copyright: Nickolay Tilcheff - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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After a feed it was time to sleep again.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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Tasmanian Devil at Australia Zoo.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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At Currumbin Sanctuary the food for the Tasmanian Devil is sealed in a cardboard box. The animal tears the box open to get at the chicken inside.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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It doesn't take long to get the chicken out and enjoy the meal.
Image by ozwildlife - Some rights reserved.
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Tasmanian Devil
Photograph copyright: Nickolay Tilcheff - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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TASMANIAN DEVIL FACTS |
Description
The Tasmanian Devil is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial in the world. It has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. The fur is mainly black, but white markings often occur on the rump and chest. Body size also varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Large males weigh up to 12 kg, and stand about 30 cm high at the shoulder. (Description from Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania). Check out the audio - they sound quite fierce.
Size
50cm long - about the size of a small dog.
Habitat
coastal heath, open dry sclerophyll forest, and mixed sclerophyll-rainforest
Food
The devil is mainly a scavenger and feeds on whatever is available. It has strong teeth and can eat the bones as well. Wallabies, various small mammals birds, reptiles, frogs, insects are eaten, either as carrion or prey. Carcasses of sheep and cattle provide food in farming areas.
Breeding
Devils usually mate in March, and the young are born in April. Gestation is 21 days. The average number of young is 2 or 3. Young are carried in the pouch for about 4 months and weaned at 5 or 6 months. The live for up to 7-8 years
Range
Tasmania - believed the devil became extinct on the mainland about 600 years ago
Credits:
Map is from Atlas of Living Australia website at https://biocache.ala.org.au licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Classification
| Class: | Mammalia | | Order: | Dasyuromorphia | | Family: | Dasyuridae | | Genus: | Sarcophilus | | Species: | harrisii | | Common Name: | Tasmanian Devil |
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