Tasmanian Devils

The average life span of a Tasmanian devil is 6-8 years. They are more likely to live longer in captivity, as in the wild they are prone to being hit by cars. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has also reduced the life expectancy of at least one third of wild Tasmanian devils.

A Tasmanian Devil will tackle anything up to wombat size to get a meal. Although they are perfectly capable of removing a finger with one bite, they would not hunt humans, or attack, other than in self defense.

The biggest threat to the Tasmanian Devil used to be the Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger, and this was only because the two species competed for food. However, since the extinction of the Thylacine, man has become a bigger predator than any other animal - man and his dogs. It is only in more recent years that the Tasmanian Devil has become protected.

The fox has reasonably recently been introduced to Tasmania, and it now poses a threat to the survival of younger Tasmanian devils as well.

An analysis of mammalian bite force relative to the body size shows that the Tasmanian Devil has the strongest bite of any living mammal (over 5,100 psi (35,000 kPa)).[8] [8] Wroe, S, McHenry, C, and Thomason, J. 2005. Bite club: comparative bite force in big biting mammals and the prediction of predatory behaviour in fossil taxa. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences272:619-625 PMID 15817436

Tasmanian devils are endemic to Australia. Ever since European settlement, they have only ever been found on Australia's island state of Tasmania, but fossil evidence indicates they were once found throughout the mainland.

The Tasmanian devil is a dasyurid, or carnivorous marsupial. It is a nocturnal hunter, seeking live prey which may include birds, insects and small mammals up to the size of wallabies. It also scavenges animal carcasses, particularly roadkill.

The Tasmanian devil is a solitary animal, hiding in thick scrub, caves or old wombat burrows during the day. It becomes aggressive when in competition for food.

They don't.

Tasmanian devils used to be found throughout the Australian mainland, as well as Tasmania and even New Guinea. It is thought that 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 Australian mainland. However, they have continued to exist on the island of Tasmania because Tasmania has retained the cool temperate climate thought to once be in Australia and New Guinea, and the dingo has never made it to the island.

The Tasmanian devil is important because it is a carrion-eater. This means it feeds on carcasses of dead animals, which helps keep its environment clean and free of diseases which might develop from animal bodies lying in the sun.

There are no truly close relatives of the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial, or dasyurid, so its closest relatives are the other dasyurids, such as the quoll, while more distant relatives are the numbat and the now-extinct Thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger.

Quite high. Logging is one of Tasmania's main industries, and where there is logging, there is, by default, loss of habitat. While greater areas of Tasmania are being protected by law, the regions currently unprotected mean that the Tasmanian devil's environment will continue to suffer damage. Also, given Australia's high bushfire rating, even protected areas suffer from major damage through bushfires.

One cannot compare whether or not a particular animal species is "better" than another. Both of these native Australian marsupials are completely unique and suited to a particular niche.

While the Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest remaining dasyurid, or carnivorous marsupial, the mountain Pygmy possum is the only Australian marsupial that hibernates.

With Devils Amongst Us All was created on 2006-08-22.

The gestation period of the Tasmanian devil is variously quoted as being about 18 - 21 days.

Tasmania is a state. It is the island state which is part of the country of Australia.

give me poo

A Tasmanian is not an animal. A Tasmanian is a resident of Tasmania, Australia's island state.

No.

Yes, Tasmanian devils can swim.

Anortions

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The Tasmanian devil is found in Tasmania, Australia's southern island state. Average temperatures in summer range between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius (62 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit), while winter temperatures tend to range between 3 and 11 degrees Celsius (37 and 51 degrees Fahrenheit).