growl
the sound is hard to describe

Itcanbelikeaharshcough.Oranangryhiccup.Orasharpshriek.Italldependsonwhatisbeingsaidandwhoisdoingthetalking.WhenaTasmaniandevil“speaks,”it’sbestto listen.

Tasmaniandevilsarefoundinonlyonepartoftheworld,ontheislandofTasmania.It’soffAustralia’ssoutheasterncoast.Devilswereonceontheirwaytoextinction,victimsofastrangecancer.Today,theyaremakingarecovery.How?Find out!

Australia

Antarctica

Pacific
Ocean

Indian
Ocean

Tasmania

ThisTasmaniandevilhaslargecubsonher back.

Tostart,Tasmaniandevilsaremarsupials. That’sakindofmammallikethekangaroo.Theyoungfinishdevelopingintheirmother’spouch.Thepouchhelpsherfeedandprotecthernewborns,calledimps.Amothercangivebirthtoasmanyas40imps.Yet,thereisonlyspaceforfourinherpouch.Onlyfourcan survive.

Newbornimpsarethesizeofraisins.Theystayintheirmother’spouchforfourmonths.Aftersixmonths,theyarereadytoeatsolidfoods.Tasmaniandevilsarescavengers. Theyeatdeadanimals,calledcarrion. Theywilleatdeadwallabies,opossums,and wombats.



Tasmaniandevilseatdead animals.

A Tasmaniandevil'sjawscandeliverapowerful bite!

Tasmaniandevilsarenotpickyeaters.Theywillalsoeatbirds,lizards,frogs,andevendeadfarm animals.


Strongnecksholduptheirskulls.Theirskullsarelargetosupporttheirstrongjaws.Devilseattheirpreywithitsbones,fur,andall.Theirteetharebuiltforbiting,tearing,and crushing.

From Imp to Devil!

raisin

imp

Atbirth
Each impisthesizeofaraisin;fourimpscrawltotheirmother’s pouch.

4months
The impsareoldenoughtoleavetheirmother’spouch.Theyoftenrideonher back.

6months
The impsstopdrinkingmilk.Theybegineatingsolid food.

8months
The youngdevilsleavetheirmother.Theyliveontheir own.

2years
The devilsareoldenoughtohavetheirown young.

Adultlife
Wild devilscanliveuptoeight years.