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Wild Things :: Tasmanian Devil

Dec 27, 2006

These guys really do exist! They don't look like the cartoon character very much, but they do have a similar disposition.
 

Where and What?

You won't find these guys at the local pet store. Tasmanian Devils are found on the Australian Island of Tasmania. They are marsupials, meaning that they have a pouch where the female keeps the young. So where did the Devil in Tasmanian Devil come from? Well, it's because of the terrible shrieking noises, snorts and snarls it makes.

Lookin' Good

They have black fur with white markings on the neck, shoulders and bottom. Tasmanian Devils have really strong jaws and very sharp teeth that can crush bone. They also have a large head, a furry tail almost a foot long and a strong stocky body.

Diet & Lifestyle

These marsupials live most of their lives alone prowling the wilderness at night. During the day they stay hidden in a burrow or hollow log. The life span of an average T-devil is about eight years and they usually weigh about 13 to 22 pounds. Tasmanian Devils are carnivorous which means they eat meat. They prefer animals that have already been killed and they aren't picky about leftovers theyll even eat the fur! If they are hungry and can't find a dead animal they will resort to killing. They are at the top of their food chain in Tasmania, but ceased to exist in Australia because Dingos (wild dogs) ate them. The female T-Devil gives birth to three or four very tiny, barely formed babies and then carries them in her backwards-facing pouch for about four months.

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