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The Tasmanian devil is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. It has a squat, thick build, with a large head and a tail which is about half its body length. Unusually for a marsupial, its forelegs are slightly longer than its hind legs, and devils can run up to 13 km/h (8.1 mph) for short distances.
Apr 22, 2024 · Tasmanian devil, stocky carnivorous marsupial with heavy forequarters, weak hindquarters, and a large squarish head. It is named for the Australian island-state of Tasmania, its only native habitat. Vaguely bearlike in appearance and weighing up to 26 pounds, it is 20 to 31 inches long and has a bushy tail.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- What Is The Tasmanian Devil?
- Habitat
- Temperament
- Diet and Behavior
- Reproduction
- Threats to Survival
- Conservation
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These famously feisty mammals have a coat of coarse brown or black fur and a stocky profile that gives them the appearance of a baby bear. Most have a white stripe or patchon their chest and light spots on their sides or rear end. They have long front legs and shorter rear legs, giving them a lumbering, piglike gait. The Tasmanian devil is the worl...
Once abundant throughout Australia, Tasmanian devils are now found only on the island state of Tasmania. Their Tasmanian range encompasses the entire island, although they are partial to coastal scrublands and forests. Biologists speculatethat their extinction on the mainland about 400 years ago may be linked to the introduction of Asian dogs—or di...
Tasmanian devils have a reputation for flying into a ragewhen threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending a meal. Early European settlers dubbed them “devils” after witnessing displays such as teeth-baring, lunging, and an array of spine-chilling guttural growls. These behaviors also inspired the Looney Tunes portrayal of Taz, the T...
Tasmanian devils are strictly carnivorous, surviving on small prey such as frogs, birds, fish, and insects. They prefer scavanging to hunting and frequently feast communally on carrion. They are at their most rowdy when jockeying for position on a large carcass. Like other marsupials, when they are well-fed, their tails swell with stored fat. Devil...
Mothers give birth after about three weeks of pregnancy to 20 or 30 very tiny young. These hairless, raisin-size babies crawl up the mother's fur and into her pouch. However, the mother has only four nipples, so only a handfulof babies survive. Infants emerge from the pouch after about four months, are generally weaned by the sixth month, and on th...
Efforts in the late 1800s to eradicate Tasmanian devils—considered to be livestock-killing pests—were nearly successful. In 1941, the government made devils a protected species, and their numbers have grown steadily since. Tragically, though, a catastrophic illness discovered in the mid-1990s has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. Called...
The Tasmanian devil is a protected species in Australia. In 2003, the Tasmanian state government launched its Save the Tasmanian Devil Program as an official response to the threat of extinction posed by DFTD. This response includes sequestering populations where the disease has not yet appeared and focusing on captive breeding programs to save the...
Learn about the Tasmanian devil, the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, and its habitat, diet, behavior, and threats. Find out how this iconic species is fighting a rare contagious cancer and how you can help save it.
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Learn about the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world, their diet, life span, size, and feisty personality. Find out how they are affected by a rare contagious cancer that threatens their survival. See stunning photos of Tasmanian devils in the wild and in captivity.
Oct 24, 2014 · The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, according to National Geographic. Most of the time, they eat birds, snakes, fish and insects. Often, they feast on dead...
Learn about the Tasmanian devil, the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world, its appearance, diet, behavior, and conservation status. Find out how it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world, what threats it faces from a deadly disease, and how it reproduces and lives in different habitats.
The Tasmanian devil is the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. Identification. Having the appearance of a small dog, it is characterized by its black fur and white markings on the chest and some times rump. Their stocky nature is accentuated by their short muzzle and limbs. Size range. 55-65 cm head to tail; 24-25cm tail.
