What features does a Tasmanian devil have to help it survive?

Answer 1

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial mammal that is native to Tasmania. It was once widespread on the Australian mainland, but the arrival of the Dingo and possibly climate change at the end of the last ice age, may have contributed to its extinction on the mainland. Their habitat is eucalypt forest, woodlands, heath and farmland. They are terrestrial and mostly nocturnal and eat insects, mammals up to the size of a wombat, and carrion. They can live to 6 years, or up to 8 in captivity. Females are mature at 2 years and breed in March producing 2 young in the first year and 3 to 4 per year for the next 3 years. The gestation period is about a month. After birth, they remain in their mother's backward facing pouch for 15 weeks and are then left in the den. By October, they are weaned and follow the mother out looking for food. They have a compact muscular body with a broad head and small eyes, black fur with a white streak across the chest and maybe one across the rump. Males grow to about 650 mm and 9 kg, females grow to 570 mm and 7 kg. From about 1996, the Tasmanian Devil has been threatened by a fatal form of cancer called "Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)" which has killed more than 90% of adults in high density areas and 45% of adults in medium to low density areas resulting in an "Endangered" classification.

Answer 2

Tasmanian devils are both scavengers and hunters. They are carnivorous marsupials, belonging to e group of animals known as dasyurids, so they only eat meat, but they eat a variety of animal protein. They eat insects, small prey such as snakes, birds, fish and mammals up to the size of a wombat, and carrion (carcasses or dead animal bodies). The Tasmanian devil scavenges most of its food and will eat whatever is handy, particularly road kill.

On average, Tasmanian Devils raise 2-3 joeys at any one time in their pouch. However, a female Tasmanian devil actually may have several dozen tiny embryos in one birth - anywhere between 20 and 40 - but only four at most can latch onto a teat in the mother's pouch. The rest are lost. The breeding season is March to April, so Tasmanian devils breed just once a year.

Tasmanian devils were added to the endangered species list in 2008. This is largely because of Devil Facial Tumour Disease, or DFTD, which causes facial lesions which increase in size until the Tasmanian devil can no longer eat, and becomes susceptible to infections. DFTD has killed more than 90% of adults in high density areas and 45% of adults in medium to low density areas. Only the western third of Tasmania is currently free of the disease. 60% of the state is affected. The Devils seem to be particularly vulnerable to this because of their genetic makeup: they have particularly low levels of genetic diversity and a chromosomal mutation which is unique among carnivorous mammals. It is hoped that, by studying this genetic makeup, scientists will be able to develop a vaccine and/or cure. Also, scientists have recently reported promising results in cancer cures from a drug manufactured from a certain type of brushwood in the North Queensland tropical rainforests. This has worked successfully in trials on cancerous tumours in cats, dogs and horses, and as well as being hoped to be a potential cure in human cancers, it is also hoped to be able to be used against DFTD.

Answer 3

Tasmanian devils occupy a unique niche in their habitat. They are assisted by numerous adaptations.

• The most noticeable adaptation of Tasmanian devils is their excellent senses. They will use their acute sense of smell to locate carrion during the day, but especially at night.
• The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, and an animal that prefers dense bushland shelter. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.
• Tasmanian devils can also emit a pungent odor as a defense mechanism when threatened.
• It has a frightening devil-like shriek, enough to scare away a curious predator, even though this noise is usually emitted during territorial fights, rather than as a defense.
• The Tasmanian devil is a scavenger, eating dead animals already killed by other animals, and on roadkill. There are no dingoes on the island of Tasmania, so the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial on Tasmania. Devils also hunt live prey.

Answer 4

Tasmanian devils occupy a very unique niche in their habitat. They are assisted by numerous special features.

• The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, and an animal that prefers dense bushland shelter. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.
• Tasmanian devils can also emit a pungent odor as a defence mechanism when threatened.
• It has a frightening devil-like shriek, enough to scare away a curious predator, even though this noise is usually emitted during territorial fights, rather than as a defence.
• The Tasmanian devil is a scavenger, eating dead animals already killed by other animals, and on roadkill. There are no dingoes on the island of Tasmania, so the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial on Tasmania. Devils also hunt live prey.

Answer 5

One of themain environmental adaptations of the Tasmanian devil is the fact that it hides in dense bushland or cool temperate rainforest. The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, and an animal that prefers dense bushland shelter. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.

Answer 6

Tasmanian devils occupy a very unique niche in their habitat, and they are assisted by numerous special adaptations.

• The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, and an animal that prefers dense bushland shelter. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.
• Tasmanian devils can also emit a pungent odor as a defence mechanism when threatened.
• It has a frightening devil-like shriek, enough to scare away a curious predator, even though this noise is usually emitted during territorial fights, rather than as a defence.
• The Tasmanian devil is a scavenger, eating dead animals already killed by other animals, and on roadkill. There are no dingoes on the island of Tasmania, so the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial on Tasmania. Devils also hunt live prey.

Answer 7

Physical adaptations of the Tasmanian devil include:

• Its excellent senses. It will use its keen sense of smell to locate carrion during the day, and especially at night.
• The Tasmanian devil has colouring that enables it to merge into its thick bushland shelter, and which assists it as a nocturnal creature. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.
• Tasmanian devils can also emit a pungent odor as a defence mechanism when threatened.
• Its vocal cords are capable of generating a frightening devil-like shriek, enough to scare away a curious predator, even though this noise is usually made during territorial fights, rather than as a defence.

Answer 8

Tasmanian devils are nocturnal hunters, and feeders of carrion. They are assisted in their ability to survive by numerous physical features.

• The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, and an animal that prefers dense bushland shelter. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.
• Tasmanian devils can also emit a pungent odor as a defence mechanism when threatened.
• It has a frightening devil-like shriek, enough to scare away a curious predator, even though this noise is usually emitted during territorial fights, rather than as a defence.
• The Tasmanian devil is a scavenger, eating dead animals already killed by other animals, and on roadkill. There are no dingoes on the island of Tasmania, so the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial on Tasmania. Devils also hunt live prey.