tasmania+devil

Tasmanian Devil,** **//Sarcophilus harrisii//** http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/ben/tassie/description.htm
 * N.A.

Interesting **Facts**
The Tasmanian Devil is an endangered animal in Tasmania, Australia. Tasmanian devils are nocternal scavengers. Scientists have found the devil's fossils in mainland Australia, but now they are only found in the island of Tasmania. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html The devil is nocturnal (active after dark). During the day it usually hides in a den, or dense bush. It roams considerable distances --up to 16 km -- along well-defined trails in search of food. It usually ambles slowly with a characteristic gait but can gallop quickly with both hind feet together. Young devils are more agile however and can climb trees. Although not territorial, devils have a home range. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html Devils are widespread in Tasmania from the coast to the mountains. They live in coastal heath, open dry sclerophyll forest, and mixed sclerophyll-rainforest -- in fact, almost anywhere they can hide and find shelter by day, and find food at night. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html The devil is mainly a scavenger and feeds on whatever is available. Powerful jaws and teeth enable it to completely devour its prey -- bones, fur and all. Wallabies, and various small mammals and birds, are eaten -- either as carrion or prey. Reptiles, amphibians, insects and even sea squirts have been found in the stomachs of wild devils. Carcasses of sheep and cattle provide food in farming areas. Devils maintain bush and farm hygiene by cleaning up carcasses. This can help reduce the risk of blowfly strike to sheep by removing food for maggots. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html Devils were a nuisance to the early European settlers of Hobart Town, raiding the poultry yards, but were soon driven away to more remote areas of the island. In 1830 the Van Diemen's Land Co. introduced a bounty scheme to remove devils, as well as Tasmanian tigers and wild dogs, from their northwest properties: 2/6 (25 cents) for male devils and 3/6 (35 cents) for females. Devils ate animals caught in snares, and were believed to take lambs and sheep. For over a century they were trapped and poisoned and became very rare. They seemed, like the Tasmanian tiger, to be headed for extinction. Despite this the Tasmanian devil was not protected by law until June 1941. After this the population gradually increased and the Tasmanian devil was chosen as the symbol of the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html
 * Behavior**
 * Habitat/Range**
 * Diet**
 * Tasmanian Devil's History**

Reproduction
Females start to breed when they reach sexual maturity, typically in their second year. At this point, they become fertile once a year, producing multiple ova while in heat. Mating occurs in March, in sheltered locations during both day and night. Males fight over females in the breeding season, and female devils will mate with the dominant male. Devils are not mongamous, and females will mate with several males if not guarded after mating. Gestation lasts 31 days, and devils give birth to 20–40 young, each weighing approximately 0.18–0.24 grams. When the young are born, they move from the vagina to the pouch. Once inside the pouch, they each remain attached to a nipple for the next 100 days. The female Tasmanian Devil's pouch, like that of the wombat, opens to the rear, so it is physically difficult for the female to interact with young inside the pouch. Despite the large litter at birth, the female has only four nipples, so that no more than four young can survive birth. On average, more females survive than males. Those who do not procure a nipple are typically eaten by the mother.Inside the pouch, the nourished young develop quickly. At 15 days the external parts of the ear are visible. Eyelids are apparent at 16 days, whiskers at 17 days, and the lips at 20 days. The young start to grow fur at 49 days and have a full coat by 90 days. Their eyes open shortly after their fur coat develops—between 87 and 93 days—and their mouths can relax their hold of the nipple at 100 days. They leave the pouch 105 days after birth, appearing as small copies of the parent and weighing approximately 200 grams. Unlike kangaroo joeys, young devils do not return to the pouch; instead, they remain in the den for another three months, first venturing outside the den between October and December before becoming independent in January. Female devils are occupied with raising their young for all but approximately six weeks of the year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Devil

Lifespan
Tasmanian devils live up to 8 years old http://www.arazpa.org.au/Education_FactSheets_TassieDevil.htm

The Tasmanian Devil can be 20 to 30 inches long. Large Males can weigh 25 pounds and can be 12 inches high at the shoulders. It looks kind of like a small wolf. It has a long bushy tail. http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/ben/tassie/description.htm

To view videos go to google.com Then go to videos and type in tasmanian devil.