Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial about the size of a small dog. It has a squat, muscular build, a large head and a tail about half its body length. The fur is usually black, often with white patches on the chest and rump, though around 16% of wild Tasmanian devils have no white patches.

Males average about 8 kg and females about 6 kg, with Tasmanian devils in western Tasmania tending to be smaller. They are the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial in the world.

Tasmanian devils live in the wild on the island of Tasmania, in almost every habitat including the edges of towns. They particularly favour dry forests and coastal woodlands. They are known for a pungent odour, an extremely loud screech, a keen sense of smell and one of the strongest bites of any living land predator for their body size.

Tasmanian devils belong to the family Dasyuridae and are most closely related to quolls, and more distantly to the thylacine. Their lineage is thought to have split from the ancestors of quolls between 10 and 15 million years ago. The genus also included two larger extinct species known from fossils.

The first published description came in 1807 from naturalist George Harris, who thought it was a type of opossum. The name Sarcophilus harrisii, meaning Harris's flesh-lover, was given by Pierre Boitard in 1841. Early explorers called them Beelzebub's pup after hearing their far-carrying cries at night.

Tasmanian devils once lived across mainland Australia but died out there around 3,500 years ago, possibly because of the dingo, human activity or climate change. They became officially protected in 1941. In 2020 they were reintroduced to a protected sanctuary on the mainland, the first time in over 3,000 years.

Tasmanian devils are usually solitary and do not form packs, but they sometimes eat together, and up to 12 may gather at a carcass. Much of their famous noise comes from this raucous communal feeding and can be heard several kilometres away. They also use postures, growls, shrieks and clicks to settle disputes, and they sometimes defecate together at shared latrines.

They are mainly active at night and at dusk, spending the day in dense bush or a den. Despite their rotund look they can run up to 13 km/h over short distances, climb trees and swim across rivers. They are opportunistic, eating carrion more often than live prey, and will take wombats, wallabies, birds, fish and insects.

Males fight over females in the breeding season, and Tasmanian devils are not monogamous. Females give birth to 20 to 30 tiny young after three weeks, but have only four nipples, so few survive. The young leave the pouch after about 100 days and become independent after around nine months.

Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is the best-known threat. Since the late 1990s it has drastically reduced the population, and in 2008 the Tasmanian devil was declared endangered. Outbreaks also increase inbreeding. Tasmanian devils have low genetic diversity, and recent research suggests wild populations are rapidly evolving resistance to the disease.

Few Tasmanian devils live longer than five years in the wild. Possibly the longest-lived on record was a captive male that lived for more than seven years. They are fully grown at two years old.

Many are also killed by vehicles while feeding on roadkill. Fighting leaves scars, especially on adult males.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. If you find an injured or unwell wild animal, contact a vet or a wildlife rescue.

What is a Tasmanian devil?

It is a carnivorous marsupial about the size of a small dog, found in the wild only on the island of Tasmania. It is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.

How long do Tasmanian devils live?

Few live longer than five years in the wild. Possibly the oldest recorded individual lived in captivity for over seven years.

Why are Tasmanian devils endangered?

Devil facial tumour disease has drastically cut their numbers since the late 1990s. They were declared endangered in 2008. Road deaths are an additional danger.

Why do Tasmanian devils screech so loudly?

Much of the noise comes from communal feeding at a carcass, where they growl, shriek and click. The noise is louder for larger carcasses and may call others to share the meal.

Are Tasmanian devils the same as the cartoon character?

No. The cartoon character shares the name and brought the animal worldwide attention, but the real animal is a stocky marsupial that is mostly a scavenger, and early views of it as implacably vicious were misconceptions.

A Tasmanian devil can bite through thick metal wire, and has one of the strongest bites relative to body size of any living mammalian carnivore.

They can eat up to 40% of their body weight in 30 minutes, and afterwards become so heavy and lethargic they waddle away slowly.

Near human homes, Tasmanian devils have been known to steal shoes, clothes, blankets and pillows.

Their white patches are thought to draw bites toward less important areas of the body, and are visible to other Tasmanian devils at night.

Newborns weigh only around 0.2 g, and competition is fierce as they move to the pouch.

They are an iconic symbol of Tasmania and an important attraction for tourists.