Hands Down Animals · Printable fact sheet
Tasmanian Devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Sarcophilus harrisii |
|---|---|
| Size | 52–80 cm (head-body length) |
| Weight | 6–14 kg (male); 4–9 kg (female) |
| Lifespan | 5 years (average in the wild; up to 8 years in captivity) |
| Diet | Opportunistic carnivore and scavenger; eats carrion, small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. |
| Habitat | dry sclerophyll forest, rainforest edges, coastal scrublands |
| Where it lives | Tasmania, Eastern Tasmania, Coastal Tasmania, Central Highlands Tasmania |
| IUCN status | Endangered |
| Population | 12,000 - 18,000 mature individuals |
| Top speed | 13 km/h |
| Family | Dasyuridae |
About the tasmanian devil
The Tasmanian devil is the largest living carnivorous marsupial, about the size of a small dog, and it survives in the wild only on the island of Tasmania after disappearing from mainland Australia some 3,000 years ago. Its jaws are strong enough to crush bone, it eats carcasses whole, and its screeching night-time calls earned it the name from early settlers. A contagious facial cancer discovered in 1996 has killed most of the population and the species is Endangered; disease-free populations have been established in reserves and on Maria Island.
Five things to know
- The Tasmanian devil is the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.
- It produces a famously loud, screeching scream and aggressive displays.
- Population plummeted due to a contagious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD).
- It has one of the most powerful bites (relative to size) among all mammals.
- Tasmanian devils are now found only on the Australian island of Tasmania.
Homeschool unit: Animals homeschool guide — Habitats, adaptations and food chains as a graded unit, with the tasmanian devil as one of its worked examples.