Itcanbelikeaharshcough.Oranangryhiccup.Orasharp,shrillshriek.Italldependsonwhatisbeingsaidandwhoisdoingthetalking.WhenaTasmaniandevil“speaks,”it’sbestjustto listen.
You’dhavetogoalongwaytohearaTasmaniandevil.Theyare foundinonlyonepartoftheworld,ontheislandofTasmania.It’soffAustralia’ssoutheasterncoast.Youcanfindtheminthewildtherenow.Buttheirfatewasuncertain25yearsago.Tasmaniandevilswerevictimsofamysteriouscancer.Infact,theywereontheirwayto extinction.
Australia
Antarctica
Pacific
Ocean
Indian
Ocean
Tasmania
ThisTasmaniandevilhaslargecubsonher back.
Tostart,Tasmaniandevilsaremarsupials. That’sakindofmammalinwhichtheyoungfinishdevelopingintheirmother’spouch.Thekangarooisanothertypeofmarsupial.Amotherdevil’spouchhelpsherfeedandprotecthernewborns,orimps.Amothercangivebirthtoasmanyas
40imps.Yet,thereisonlyspaceforfourinherpouch,soonlyfourcan survive.
Newbornimpsarethesizeofaraisin.Theystayintheirmother’spouchforfourmonths.Aftersixmonths,theyarereadytoeatsolid foods.
Tasmaniandevilsarescavengers. Theyeatcarrion, ordeadanimals.Scavengersactasnature’scleanupcrew.Theyeatthedeadanimalsbeforetheypollute waterways.
Tasmaniandevilseatdead animals.
ATasmaniandevil'sjawscandeliverapowerful bite!
Tasmaniandevilsarethelargestmeat-eatingmarsupialsintheworld.Theywilleatdeadopossumsand wombats.
Tasmaniandevilsarenotpickyeaters.Theyalsowilleatbirds,lizards,frogs,andevendeadfarmanimals.Strongnecksholduptheirskulls.Theirskullsareunusuallylargeinordertosupporttheirstrong jaws.
Devilseattheirpreycompletely—bones,fur,andall.Lookinsideadevil’smouth.You’llseeteethforbiting,teethfortearingflesh,andteethforcrushingbone.Devilscanbitedownwiththeforceofa tiger.
raisin
imp
At birth
Eachimpisthesizeofaraisin.Fourimpscrawltotheirmother’s pouch.
4 months
Theimpsareoldenoughtoleavetheirmother’spouch.Theyoftenrideonher back.
6 months
Theimpsstopdrinkingmilkandbegineatingsolid food.
8 months
Theyoungdevilsleavetheirmother.Theyliveontheir own.
2 years
Thedevilsareoldenoughtohavetheirown young.
Adult life
Devilsinthewildusuallylivefivetoeight years.
