Why do Tasmanian Devils have stripes?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Tasmanian Devils are not like Thylacines, or Tasmanian Tigers. They do not have obvious stripes. Tasmanian Devils are mostly black, with just a white stripe across their chest. In the dappled light that occurs when the sun hits bushland, this breaking up of the Tasmanian Devil's dark colouring is actually quite effective camouflage.

Answer 3

Tasmanian devils' colouring enables them to camouflage within the dense undergrowth of the bushland where they live. Their black coats with a white stripe provide excellent camouflage in both the night, and in dense bushland and undergrowth.

Their stocky bodies are well suited to the rugged terrain of Tasmania. They shelter in caves, bushes, old wombat burrows, or hollow logs, all of which are plentiful in their habitat.

There are no dingoes on the island of Tasmania, so the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial on Tasmania. Devils hunt live prey, as well as eating carrion.

Answer 4

They previously lived in Tasmania as well as on the Australian mainland. However, they became extinct on the mainland 3,000 years ago. Currently, the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.

The reason Tasmanian devils now live only in Tasmanian is because they were essentially forced out by the dingo. The Aborigines came over from Asia many thousands of years ago, and brought this non-native carnivorous mammal with them. Both animals were at the top of the food chain, but the dingo was larger and stronger, and proved too much competition for the Tasmanian devil.

Answer 5

There are several suggested theories for why the Tasmanian Devil is called the Tasmanian Devil:

• The main belief is that the Tasmanian Devil got its name because of the way it makes blood-curdling nocturnal screams and devil-like growls, especially in the dark of night.
• When stressed, this animal emits a foul odour that rivals the smell of a skunk. This most often happens around humans. It is said to reek of death, which could be another reason why the Tasmanian Devil is so called.
• It is natural for Tasmanian Devils to fight for dominance as they feed on carrion. It could be said that they "fight like the devil".

Answer 6

Tasmanian devils are nocturnal creatures, which spend much of their time hiding in thick underbrush and bushland. Black is an ideal camouflage colour for them.