What Is A Tasmanian Devil?

The Tasmanian devil is also simply known as the devil. It is a marsupial that is native to the island state of Tasmania in Australia. In fact, it is only found in Tasmania. The Tasmanian devil is the only member of the Sarcophilus genus that still exists. It is scientifically known as the Sarcophilus harrisii. It is a stocky, muscular and carnivorous animal. It is about the same size as a small dog.

It is known for several peculiar traits such as the colour of its fur (which is black), the loud screeching noise it makes which can cause a great disturbance that covers a long distance, the offensive odour it produces when it is stressed and its vicious and noisy feeding habits.

It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world. It usually eats alone, but at time, an entire group of Tasmanian devils gets together and shares the prey they have caught. It hunts prey as well as scavenges carrion. Carrion is defined as the carcass of a dead animal, which scavengers like vultures, hyenas and Tasmanian devils thrive on.

The Tasmanian devil is a thick-set animal, just under a metre long, and resembling a small bear. It has a short, broad head, short limbs and a stumpy tail. Mostly black, it has a distinctive white stripe across its throat, and some individuals have white spots on their head and flanks.

The ground-dwelling, carnivorous Tasmanian devil is well-known for being ferocious, and it has an impressive defence display of loud snarls and gnashing teeth. However, it is not an efficient predator, and seems to live mainly on carrion, preferring large carcasses such as sheep, wombats and wallabies. Increases in the amount of carrion from livestock and animal trapping have probably helped it recolonise areas and boost its population. If it is available, the Tasmanian devil will take live prey, catching small wallabies, kangaroo rats, birds, reptiles, amphibians and even fish.

The Tasmanian devil looks like a cross between an otter and a puppy but it has gained a reputation with many occupants in Tasmania for being a fierce glutton. After it has fed on a carcass, little is left except the largest bones. Although it is a predator and will kill to eat, it relies mainly on carrion for most of its food.