Tasmanian devil
Carnivorous marsupial, now confined to Tasmania, endangered by facial tumour disease.
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii; palawa kani: purinina) is a carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. It is characterised by its stocky and muscular build, black fur, pungent odour, extremely loud screech, keen sense of smell, and ferocity when feeding. The Tasmanian devil's large head and neck allow it to generate among the strongest bites per unit body mass of any extant predatory land mammal.
- scientific_name
- Sarcophilus harrisii
- family
- Dasyuridae
- native_range
- Tasmania (formerly mainland Australia)
- gestation
- Three weeks
- average_lifespan_breeding_seasons
- Four
Lore & Background
harrisii has been retained and S. laniarius relegated to a fossil species. 'Beelzebub's pup' was an early vernacular name given by explorers of Tasmania, in reference to a religious figure who is a prince of hell; the explorers first encountered the animal by hearing its far-reaching vocalisations at night.
Reader's Guide
The Tasmanian devil is an iconic symbol of Tasmania, used in logos of many organisations, groups, and products associated with the state. It is seen as an important attractor of tourists to Tasmania and has come to worldwide attention through the Looney Tunes character of the same name. The devil's genome was sequenced in 2010 by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Devils have a low genetic diversity compared to other Australian marsupials and placental carnivores, consistent with a founder effect. Outbreaks of DFTD cause an increase in inbreeding. A sub-population of devils in the north-west of the state is genetically distinct from other devils, but there is some exchange between the two groups.
Did You Know?
- Females give birth to 20 to 30 live young after three weeks' gestation, but only four nipples exist in the pouch, so few newborns survive.
- The devil's genome was sequenced in 2010 by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Tasmanian devil?
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a stocky, black-furred carnivorous marsupial in the Dasyuridae family, roughly the size of a small dog. It is instantly recognisable by its powerful jaws, pungent smell, and extremely loud screeching calls when feeding.
How does a Tasmanian devil reproduce?
Gestation is remarkably brief, lasting only about three weeks before the tiny, underdeveloped young are born. The newborns then crawl into the mother's pouch to continue growing, following the classic marsupial life cycle.
More in Marsupials 1-24
Elsewhere in the Marsupials universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record