How do Tasmanian devils have babies and look after them?

Answer 1

The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial so, like most (not all) marsupials, it has a pouch to protect its joeys while they are developing. Joeys are generally born during April, which is mid-Autumn in Australia. The young joeys are born extremely undeveloped and must compete for a teat in the pouch. Tasmanian devils can actually give birth to up to 20 joeys at a time, but having only four teats, this means most of the young die.

The Tasmanian devil joeys stay in the backward-facing pouch for around four months. The pouch faces backwards so that, when the mother digs, dirt does not get into the pouch. After four months, when they are fully furred, the joeys are transferred to a den. Within another three mobs or so, they start exploring outside. By the time they are forty weeks old, during January, the joeys are fully independent.