Tasmanian marsupial devil (sarcophilus harrisii). Tasmanian or marsupial devil Tasmanian marsupial

The first animal to appear on the island of Tasmania was the Tasmanian devil. This animal screamed terribly at night, was ferocious and had a large mouth with very sharp teeth, its coat was jet black, through all this the locals gave it such a name. After some time, they began to call him - marsupial devil.

The marsupial devil is- predatory marsupials. It belongs to the genus Sarcophilus, this animal is the only representative of its kind. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that this animal is related to the quolls. In addition, he has family ties with the marsupial wolf. But this relationship is less pronounced than the connection with the quolls.

The marsupial devil is the leader in terms of body size among other predatory marsupials. This animal, which has a dark color and a heavy build, is very similar to a bear, but its size is not so big, it can be compared to an average dog. The size of the animal is affected by gender and age, and it depends on the characteristics of life and on how the animal eats and where it lives.

Tasmanian devil body length can range from fifty to eighty centimeters, while the length of the tail varies from twenty-three to thirty centimeters. Males are larger than females. Males are considered large when their height at the withers reaches thirty centimeters, and their weight is twelve kilograms.

The Tasmanian devil looks a little awkward, as it has a massive body and asymmetrical paws, which is uncharacteristic of marsupials. It is also very noticeable that in these animals the hind legs are shorter than the front ones, and they also lack thumbs. The claws on the paws are very strong and have a round shape.

The animal's head large and disproportionate, the muzzle is slightly blunt, and the ears are small and pink. Females have four nipples and a horseshoe-shaped pouch that forms in a leather fold.

This Tasmanian animal has a black coat. On the tail it is very long, and on the body it is rather short. Many representatives of this genus have a completely bare tail, as the hair on it is often wiped off. By looking at the tail, you can determine whether the animal is healthy, if it is healthy, then they have a short and thick tail, because it is in the tail that fat accumulates. If the animal is sick and starving, then the tail becomes thin and emaciated. White horseshoe-shaped spots are also present in the color, in most cases they are located on the chest and rump.

Tasmanian devil skull very massive, the teeth are large and sharp, and the jaw is very strong. This animal without the slightest difficulty grinds large bones. The predator's prey dies instantly, as it immediately bites its spine or skull.

Spread of the marsupial devil

Animals that exist now belong to an endangered species and live only on the island of Tasmania. This Tasmanian devil existed on the Australian mainland 600 years ago. There is a version that animals began to disappear after natives brought dingoes to the island. Dogs actively hunted the Tasmanian devil, and this was the reason for their disappearance even before the arrival of European settlers.

But the acquaintance of the animal with European settlers affected its safe life. These settlers mercilessly hunted the marsupial predator, which often visited their chicken coops. The aggressive mood of the people made the Tasmanian devil go far into the mountains and forests. Only the fact that, in 1941, it was forbidden to hunt this animal, makes it possible to see it in our time. Now, these wonderful animals live in the national parks of the island, and can safely appear on sheep pastures in different parts of Tasmania.

Lifestyle of the Tasmanian Devil

In relation to the landscape the animal is not picky at all. It can be stopped only by those areas where there are no forests or a lot of people live. He especially likes in sclerophyll forests and near the coastal savannah.

The Tasmanian devil can change its place of residence, since it is not tied to one territory. Each animal lives in that area where there is always food and it is not less than twenty square kilometers. This animal can afford to appear even in those territories that are marked by other animals.

They lead a solitary life. Gathered, only in cases where there is a large prey. But even in such a situation, each individual will show that it is more important and more important than all the others. When the animals gather, they make such a noise that it can be heard for several kilometers.

marsupial devil- nocturnal animal, during the day he likes to spend time in a safe place. It can be:

But if he is not in danger, then he lies down in the sun and warms himself. This occupation is very to his liking.

People think that this animal is very aggressive, because when it meets another animal or person, it instantly opens its mouth, which has sharp and very powerful teeth. But zoologists disagree with this, according to the experiments, they found out that this is not the aggression of the beast, but just fear and wonder. There is a fact that confirms this: when the Tasmanian devil is scared or alert, he secretes a substance that does not smell very pleasant, this is done for protection, this is also used by skunks. And also, it turned out that this animal can be tamed, predatory marsupials, can be turned into pets.

If needed, this beast can run at a gallop up to thirteen kilometers per hour, although at first glance they are very clumsy. All predatory animals swim very well, but with age, the activity of the animal decreases.

The Tasmanian devil has practically no enemies. The main predator that hunted them was the marsupial wolf, but it has long been gone, since their population has not survived. But predators such as the tiger marsupial marten and large birds of prey pose a threat to their lives.

Nutrition of the Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is a very voracious animal. He can eat food, the volume of which becomes fifteen percent of his weight. But, when there is a lot of food and it suits his taste, he can eat much more than the norm. Their diet includes:

But the main food is carrion. Thanks to their sense of smell, the animal will quickly find the corpses of dead animals to the will. They eat almost all the carrion they find, they only dislike dead fish and sheep. The greatest pleasure for the animal is brought by carcasses that have had time to decompose and have been eaten by worms. Mostly on night hunting, they find the corpses of rats, wallabies, wombats, kangaroos and rabbits.

When a marsupial devil eats its prey, it eats it all with skin and bones, and does not select its individual parts. The fact that they feed on carrion is a big plus, since flies and larvae are destroyed along with the carcasses of dead animals, which, in turn, pose a threat to the health of sheep. Tasmanian devil eats everything he finds, namely:

heads of corn;
different foil; leather boots;
rubber;
small echidna needles;
kitchen towels.

Reproduction of the Tasmanian Devil

The female, which has reached the age of two, goes out in search of a male. Even when mating marsupial devils are very aggressive, because they are used to living alone and do not tolerate being in a team of their own kind. After three days of cohabitation, the female drives the male away and this brings her great pleasure.

Pregnancy in a female marsupial devil lasts only three weeks. The offspring appears somewhere in late April or early May, since the mating season begins in late March or early April. The female gives birth to twenty cubs, which weigh no more than twenty-nine grams. But only four survive. The babies that do not survive are eaten by the female.

Tasmanian devils are born very small., but already at three months their eyes open and hair appears on the body, and at that time they weigh about two hundred grams. After a month, they can get out of the female's bag and explore the world on their own, but they feed on milk for the next two months.

The life expectancy of the marsupial devil becomes no more than eight years.

Animal diseases

The main disease in the Tasmanian devil is facial disease. For the first time such a disease became known in 1999. It manifests itself in the fact that many malignant tumors appear on the head of the animal, which eventually pass to the whole body. These tumors damage vision, hearing, and mouth. When sick, the animal will not be able to hunt and will die of starvation. Such a disease is transmitted to other animals of this genus, as it is caused by a virus.

To prevent healthy animals from becoming infected, sick individuals are captured.

There is currently no cure for this terrible disease.

Tasmanian devils have recently become very popular exotic pets, especially in the US. Every day more and more people are neglecting traditional pets like cats and dogs in order to buy the lovable Tasmanian devils. Although Tasmanian devils have gained a bad reputation, thanks to the bad character Taz from the Looney Tunes animated series, they are indeed one of the most attractive animals to have in your home. Let's learn a little more about our new furry friend.

The nature and behavior of the Tasmanian devil
Tasmanian devils have a uniquely grumpy disposition and will go into a manic rage when threatened by a predator, when fighting for a mate or defending their prey. The early European settlers nicknamed him "the devil" after they witnessed similar displays as they bared their teeth, attacked, and let out a chilling guttural growl.

A photo. Cartoon character, Taz

This surprisingly vicious mammal has coarse brown or black fur, and its stocky physique looks like a growing bear cub. Most of them have a white stripe or spot on the chest, as well as light spots on the sides or back. These animals have short hind legs and long front legs, giving them the gait of a pig.

The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, reaching 76 cm (30 in) in length and up to 12 kg (26 lb) in weight, although its size varies by area and food availability. The non-standard-sized head is armed with strong muscular jaws and sharp teeth. In terms of bite force per unit weight, its bite is one of the most powerful bites among mammals.

The Tasmanian devil is clearly a carnivore, preying on small prey such as snakes, fish, birds and insects and often feasting on carrion in groups. They often make a lot of noise when fighting for a comfortable position while eating a large carcass. Like other marsupials, when they feed well, their tails swell with the fat stored there.

Tasmanian devils are hermits and nocturnal, spending their days in burrows, caves or hollow logs and emerge outside at night to feed. They use their excellent sense of smell, long whiskers, and eyesight to avoid predators and find prey or carrion. They eat just about anything they can get their teeth into and when they find food they are very voracious, eating everything including organs, hair and bones.

Females give birth after three weeks of pregnancy from 20 to 30 very tiny cubs. These raisin-sized babies crawl over their mother's fur and into her pouch. However, the mother has only four nipples, so not all cubs survive. Babies emerge from the pouch after about four months and are usually weaned by their mother by the sixth month, or by the eighth they do it on their own.

Previously, Tasmanian devils lived throughout Australia, today they can be seen in the wild on the island state of Tasmania of the same name. In Tasmania, they live throughout the island, although they can be partially found in coastal forests and shrubs. Experts believe that their disappearance on the mainland is due to the appearance of the dingo or Asian dogs.

In the late 1800s, measures taken to eradicate the Tasmanian devils (farmers mistakenly believed that they killed livestock, although there were cases when they took poultry) were very successful. In 1941, the Tasmanian devil was declared a protected species by the Australian government, and today its numbers are constantly growing.

Endangered
In the mid-90s, a terrible disease was discovered, due to which tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils died. The disease is called Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and is a rapidly spreading rare cancer that causes large tumors to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it difficult for the animal to eat. In the end, the animal dies of hunger. Experts on these animals are focusing on a captive breeding program to save this species from extinction. Due to the outbreak of DFTD, the Australian government has classified the Tasmanian devil as a vulnerable species.

Video. Angry tasmanian devil

Fortunately, a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, in which scientists studied samples of these animals dating back to the period 1999-2014, reports that the genome of the Tasmanian devil is rapidly mutating. Seven genes have been found that in humans characterize immunity to cancers. Therefore, scientists are confident that the Tasmanian devil will survive and develop immunity to this incurable disease.

Some interesting facts about the Tasmanian Devil
1. Insanely powerful bite. Tasmanian devils do not attack humans unless provoked, but they are not afraid to defend themselves. When they bite, their powerful jaws can do a lot of damage. Their bite per unit of body mass is 540 kg per square inch! This is strong enough to break a metal trap.

2. Small but brutal. These strong animals can swim across the river and climb the highest tree. If necessary, they are able to run up to 12 miles per hour for an hour.

A photo. mouth of the tasmanian devil

3. Signaling ears. If you're not quite sure if the Tasmanian Devil is angry (growling doesn't count), look at the color of his ears. The furious Tasmanian Devil's ears will change from pink to bright fiery red.

4. Secret weapon. Even though they are ferocious, they would rather run away than fight another animal. If they feel threatened by other animal species, they can release a terrible odor that resembles that of a skunk. In preparation for a confrontation with another Tasmanian devil, these creatures warn of their displeasure with sneezes and growls similar to those made by a pig when it is slaughtered.

5. Big appetite. Tasmanian devils eat 5-10% of their body weight food every day. If they are really hungry, these creatures are known to be able to eat up to 40% of their body weight in just 30 minutes.

6. Scientific name. The official scientific name for the Tasmanian devil is Sarcophilus Harrisii, which means "lover of the flesh" in Latin.

7. As a symbol. The Tasmanian Devil is the symbol of both the Tasmanian National Park and Wildlife Service and the former Australian football team, the Tasmanian Devils. He also received his own Australian dollar commemorative coin in the early 1990s. This animal is also very popular among tourists.

8. Nocturnal animals. Although these animals are not so numerous, the chances of seeing them increase if you drive through national parks or high mountain lakes after dark.

9. Tails are a sign of health. The tail of the Tasmanian devil stores fat, and if its tail is thin, then this is a sure sign of a sick or starving animal.

10. Females have bags. The female pouch is horseshoe shaped and opens backwards. This is a very clever design, it avoids the dirt filling up the bag when the animal digs. There are only 4 nipples in the bag.

Video. Glutton in Tasmania

Tasmanian devil as a pet
Before you decide to get this animal, you should read this section of the article. Tasmanian devils do not like water. Devils have been known to go into "psychotic rage" when they are forced to take baths. At this time, they become very confused and anxious, they can endlessly run in circles and crash into the wall at maximum speed.

Unlike cats and dogs, the Tasmanian devil is easy to feed. They eat any leftovers, carrion and corpses. They also enjoy living food and are happy to hunt down and eat something even if they have to engage in combat. Their prey can be: cats, ferrets, dogs, iguanas, cows, horses and even elephants. Yes, you are probably wondering how they can kill an elephant? Their jaws are so strong that they can crush the head of an elephant like a coconut vise.

Tasmanian devils also have many cute features. They can be affable, cuddly and even loving…if they are not annoyed. Tasmanian devils can be annoyed by many things, like turning on the TV, switching lights, talking, children laughing and being petted.

When they go into violent anger, they often try to break a window, rip apart furniture that gets in their way, and brutally attack young children. At this time, the main thing is not to scare them away.

It is also important to understand that Tasmanian devils are nocturnal animals. They love to roam around the house late at night and make their beautiful (but loud) repeated squeals. They also love to copulate, confusing anything with their potential mate. "Anything" could be: clothes from a laundry basket, a coffee table, even a human leg. During this time, they tend to squeal and bite wildly.

To conclude, Tasmanian devils are not very good pets to keep. They are very energetic, violent and capable of attacking you and other animals.

About the attacks of the Tasmanian devil on people
There are very few reports of Tasmanian devil attacks on people, as a rule, people got off with cuts and wounds on their hands (hand-fed) and legs. But there is definitely not a single report when the Tasmanian devil killed a person. More often, tourists suffer from these animals, who have never seen such marvelous voracious animals roaring like pigs.

Newly released Tasmanian devils on Mariah Island have caused serious harm to visitors, preying on birds and harassing people, the operator of the popular tourist destination's ferry said.

John Cole-Cook is afraid to take a child with him because he fears for him. Some of the Tasmanian Devils have grown as large as Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) and have become particularly arrogant towards humans. Some of them have already bitten tourists.

28 Tasmanian Devils were released on Mariah Island, which is home to a World Heritage Site listed in 2012 by the Darlington Probation Station. This was done as part of a plan to create a healthy population to protect them from the Tasmanian demon facial tumor that is decimating animals in Tasmania.

This initial population has now grown to nearly 100 individuals and Cole Cook wants them to be fenced off for public safety reasons. Cole Cook said that earlier on the Cape, geese calmly laid eggs and nursed chickens, and the same applies to other birds.

But now the island's once prolific bird population is on the decline due to the Tasmanian devil's more brazen interactions with humans.

“After all, they can seriously harm a small child,” Cole-Cook said. “Already, several tourists who hand-fed Tasmanian devils have been bitten and have also been found in tents and on beds in campgrounds.”

"These devils are big, almost like blue healers." Cole Cook said 16 Tasmanian devils that bit tourists on Mariah Island were deported back to Tasmania last week.

But the Department of Mineral Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), said the Tasmanian devils were sent back to support other protected groups, not because of "bad behavior."

“Some of the old released animals were very familiar and comfortable with people, but only one animal was removed from the island due to human contact,” he said.

"This animal does not bite anyone, but holds its ground when cornered." Cole Cook advised tourists not to hand-feed the Tasmanian devils, but he said many ignored the advice.

He said the Tasmanian Devil Relocation Program was worthy of attention, but now it needs to be rethought.

"It's time to sharpen them up on some part of the island," he said.

DPIPWE reported that Mariah Island was chosen precisely because it was home to other introduced species such as the chicken goose.

"This is done with the goal of ensuring population sustainability in order to maximize genetic diversity and minimize their impact on other native National Park species."

The Tasmanian Devil is so named because it is believed to be very aggressive. In addition, it makes a characteristic frightening sound. In fact, it is rather shy, feeding mainly on carrion and rarely preying on live prey. Earlier, even before the spread of the dingo dog in Australia, the animal we are considering lived on the mainland. Today, the Tasmanian devil is an animal that lives only in Tasmania, where it has no natural enemies, but is still an endangered species. The animal hunts at night, and spends days in thickets. Lives on trees in hard leaves, also appears on rocky areas. Sleeps in different places: from a hollow in a tree to a cave in a rock.

The Tasmanian Devil is an aggressive marsupial

Most of us associate this animal, first of all, with a cartoon character. Indeed, this animal is just as out of control as its fairy tale counterpart. But the facts show that even one individual can kill up to 60 poultry in just one night.

Tasmanian devils are peculiar animals. They are small marsupials with rat-like features, sharp teeth, and thick black or brown fur. The animal is undersized, but do not be deceived: this creature is very combative and is quite intimidating.

Description of the Tasmanian Devil

The real Tasmanian devil, in fact, is completely different from the famous cartoon character. It is not of that size and does not create a storm near the surrounding area like a swirling tornado. The Tasmanian devil is 51 to 79 centimeters long and weighs only 4 to 12 kg. These animals are sexually dimorphic: males are larger than females. Their life expectancy is on average 6 years.

It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in existence today. The body of the beast is strong, strong and disproportionate: a large head, the tail is almost half the length of the body of the animal. This is where most of the fat accumulates, so healthy individuals have very thick and long tails. On the front paws, the beast has five fingers: four simple and one directed to the side. This feature gives them the ability to hold food in their paws. The hind limbs have four fingers with very long and sharp claws.

The animal - the Tasmanian devil - has very strong jaws, resembling the jaws of a hyena in their structure. They have protruding fangs, four pairs of upper incisors and three lower ones. The beast can open its jaw to a width of 80 degrees, which allows it to generate very high bite force. Thanks to this, he is able to bite a whole carcass and thick bones.

Habitat

The Tasmanian devil lives on in Australia, with an area of about 35,042 square miles (90,758 square kilometers). Although these animals can live anywhere on the island, they prefer coastal scrub and dense, dry forests. Often drivers can meet them on the roads where the devils feed on carrion. Because of this, they often die under the wheels of cars. In Tasmania, road signs are very common to warn drivers of the possibility of the Tasmanian Devil. But no matter what area of the island these animals inhabit, they sleep under stones or in caves, hollows or burrows.

habits

There is one thing in common between the animal and the cartoon character of the same name: bad temperament. When the devil feels threatened, he turns into anger, in which he growls violently, lashes out and bares his teeth. He also emits otherworldly eerie screams that can seem very intimidating. The last feature can be explained by the fact that the Tasmanian devil is a lonely animal.

This unusual animal is nocturnal: it sleeps during the day and stays awake at night. This feature can be explained by their desire to avoid dangerous predators - eagles and people. At night, while hunting, he can cover a distance of more than 15 km thanks to his long hind limbs. The Tasmanian devil also has long whiskers that allow it to navigate the terrain and search for prey, especially at night.

The habit of hunting at night is explained by their ability to see everything in black and white. Therefore, they respond well to movement, but have problems with a clear vision of stationary objects. Their most developed sense is hearing. They also have a well-developed sense of smell - they smell at a distance of more than 1 km.

Young devils are good at climbing and fixing on trees, but this ability is lost with age. Most likely, this is the result of adaptation to environmental conditions of the Tasmanian devils, whose lifestyle is also marked by cases of cannibalism. Adults during severe hunger can eat young ones, which, in turn, defend themselves by climbing trees.

Nutrition Features

As already mentioned, the Tasmanian devils are carnivores. Most of the time they eat birds, snakes, fish and insects. Sometimes even a small kangaroo can become their victim. Often, instead of hunting live animals, they feast on dead carcasses called carrion. Sometimes several animals can gather near one carcass, and then fights between them are inevitable. While eating, they absorb everything without loss: they eat the bones, wool, internal organs and muscles of their prey.

The favorite food of the Tasmanian devil, due to its high fat content, is the wombat. But the animal may well eat any other mammals, fruits, frogs, tadpoles and reptiles. Their diet depends primarily on the availability of dinner. At the same time, they have a very good appetite: they can eat food equal to half their weight per day.

Reproduction and offspring

Tasmanian devils usually mate once a year, in March. Females choose a partner very carefully, and the latter can arrange real fights for her attention. The female has a gestation period of about three weeks and the babies are born in April. The offspring can be up to 50 cubs. Young devils are pink and hairless, about the size of a grain of rice, and weigh approximately 24 grams.

The breeding of Tasmanian devils is closely related to strong competition. At birth, the young are in the mother's pouch where they compete for one of her four nipples. Only these four will have a chance to survive; others die from malnutrition. The cubs remain in the mother's pouch for four months. As soon as they come out, the mother wears them on her back. After eight or nine months, the devils are fully grown. Tasmanian devils live from five to eight years.

conservation status

According to the Red List of Endangered Species, the Tasmanian devil is endangered, its numbers are declining every year. In 2007, the IUCN estimated that the distribution of the Tasmanian devil is declining. Then it was counted about 25,000 adults.

The population of this animal has declined by at least 60% since 2001 due to a cancer called Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). DFTD causes swelling on the surface of the animal's face, making it difficult for it to eat normally. Ultimately, the animal dies of starvation. This is an infectious disease, due to which the species was on the verge of extinction. Today, the Devil Conservation Program is a movement initiated by the Australian and Tasmanian governments to save animals from a terrible disease.

Being the largest of modern predatory marsupials, this animal is black in color with white spots on the chest and rump, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth, has a dense physique and severe disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the Tasmanian devil (lat. Sarcophilus harrisii). Emitting ominous cries at night, the massive and clumsy beast outwardly resembles a small bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, a large head, and the muzzle is blunted.

Sarcophilus (gr. Flesh lover) is the name of its genus. These animals reach 50-80 cm in length, up to 30 cm in height and 12 kg in weight, the length of the tail is up to 30 cm. The pouch of females opens back. Males are larger than females, but in principle, a lot also depends on age, nutrition and range: the size and weight of the animals can change in one direction or another.

But what is invariable for everyone is small pink ears, short hair, a strong tail (where fat reserves are deposited), large claws and the absence of a first finger on the hind limbs. , awarded by nature with sharp strong teeth, with one bite is able to bite and crush not only the bone, but also the spine of its prey!

Previously, this amazing animal lived on mainland Australia, but today the Tasmanian devil can only be found on the island of Tasmania. It is assumed that it was squeezed out by wild ones, brought to the mainland by the natives. European settlers also did not spare the Tasmanian devil, ruthlessly exterminating his family because of the beast's habit of ruining chicken coops.

In 1941, an official ban on hunting the Tasmanian devil literally saved these animals from complete extinction from the face of the Earth. Currently, they live in the national parks of Tasmania, in the northern, western and central parts of the island, living in almost any landscape conditions, with the exception of densely populated regions.

As for the lifestyle and diet of the Tasmanian devil, inhabiting coastal savannahs, dry sclerophyll and mixed sclerophyll-rain forests, they feed mainly on carrion, small animals (rats, rabbits) and birds. Insects, snakes and amphibians are also used.

The Tasmanian devil is very voracious: he must eat 15% of his body weight per day. If he does not eat up food of animal origin, then he can eat both plant tubers and edible roots. The animal shows activity at night, during the day hiding in dense bushes and crevices of stones.

Animals live in burrows and under the trunk of a fallen tree, arranging nests for themselves from leaves, bark and grass. He likes to walk along the shore of the reservoir, eating the surrounding frogs, crayfish and other small aquatic inhabitants. Possessing an excellent sense of smell, the Tasmanian devil can smell carrion at a great distance.

Here the size does not matter - if necessary, he will eat both a sheep and a cow! Especially pleased if the meat is properly rotten and decomposed. Going in search of prey, which the Tasmanian devil eats completely, along with bones and wool, he can fight for it with the marsupial marten.

By nature, Tasmanian devils are loners. They gather in groups only in one case - when you need to eat something large. At the same time, they fight and growl loudly, squeak, shrill scream, making a wide variety of sounds, which earns an additional bad reputation.

As a scavenger, the Tasmanian devil plays a critical role in the Tasmanian ecosystem by greatly reducing the chances of blowfly infestation in sheep. Despite its stern disposition, the Tasmanian Devil can be tamed and kept as a pet. But just don’t scare him, otherwise he will emit an unpleasant smell.

Classical zoological science singles out in its systematics up to 5,500 modern species of mammals. All of them differ markedly from each other in size, areola, structure and external features. One of the most specific animals of this class was a warlike predator, which received the name of the Tasmanian devil.

It is the only representative of its kind, however, scientists have noted its significant similarity with the quolls and most distantly with the extinct thylacine marsupial wolf.

Description and appearance

The animal Tasmanian devil is a predatory marsupial mammal. This is the only one of its kind. Scientists managed to establish a relationship with the marsupial wolf, but it is rather weakly expressed.

The Tasmanian marsupial devil is a medium-sized predator, about the size of an average dog, that is, 12-15 kilograms. The height at the withers is 24-26 centimeters, less often 30. Outwardly, you might think that this is an awkward animal due to asymmetrical paws and a rather full physique. However, it is a very agile and successful predator. This is facilitated by very strong jaws, powerful claws, his sharp eyesight and hearing.

It is interesting! The tail deserves special attention - an important sign of the health of the animal. If it is covered with thick hair and very thick, then the Tasmanian marsupial devil eats well and is absolutely healthy. Moreover, the animal uses it as a store of fat for difficult times.

The nature and behavior of the Tasmanian devil

Tasmanian devils have a uniquely grumpy disposition and will go into a manic rage when threatened by a predator, when fighting for a mate or defending their prey. The early European settlers nicknamed him "the devil" after they witnessed similar displays as they bared their teeth, attacked, and let out a chilling guttural growl.

habitats

Once upon a time, Tasmanian devils lived throughout almost all of Australia, but today they live exclusively on the island of Tasmania. Researchers believe that devils disappeared from the mainland at the same time that native tribes spread across Australia, and wild dingo dogs appeared about 3,000 years ago.

Today, the Tasmanian devils, as the name implies, live on the island of Tasmania, but most of all these animals can be found in the wooded areas off the coast. In the 19th century, the Tasmanian devils began to be mercilessly exterminated, as local farmers viewed them as sworn enemies to their livestock. They almost died out, but timely measures taken to save these animals allowed them to increase their populations.

Guard status: an endangered species

Tasmanian devils became protected in 1941, but their population has declined by 60 percent over the past decade. Scientists believe that the reason for the decline in the number of animals is mainly an infectious deadly form of cancer that infects devils and spreads very quickly. Tumors form on the face of the devils, so it becomes more difficult for the animals to eat. The problem of the devils is also the traffic on the roads.

Nutrition Features

But the animal may well eat any other mammals, fruits, frogs, tadpoles and reptiles. Their diet depends primarily on the availability of dinner. At the same time, they have a very good appetite: they can eat food equal to half their weight per day.

reproduction

The life expectancy of the marsupial devil becomes no more than eight years.

Natural enemies of the Tasmanian devil

Due to their aggressive disposition and nocturnal lifestyle, adult marsupial devils have few natural enemies. Previously, they were hunted by the marsupial wolf (tilacin) and dingo. Young animals are attacked by birds of prey and tiger marsupial martens. The new enemy and food competitor of the Tasmanian devil is the common fox, which was brought to Tasmania at the beginning of the 21st century.

The Tasmanian devil caused trouble for European settlers, ruined chicken coops, ate animals that fell into traps, attacked lambs and sheep. For these reasons, the animal was actively exterminated. Edible meat, which tasted like veal, was also in demand. By the middle of the 20th century, the species was on the verge of extinction, and hunting for it was prohibited, and the population was restored. Now it is stable, although subject to seasonal fluctuations.