Species of the week:Tasmanian Devil

Species of the week:
Tasmanian Devil(Sarcophilus harrissi)

1. The Tasmanian Devil can only be currently found in the Tasmania although its previous range included Australia.
2. It is a carnivorous marsupial, the size of a cat or a small dog and it is the largest extant marsupial.
3. It is generally a nocturnal, crepuscular hunter.
4. They are not territorial creatures but the females are considered to be territorial around their dens.
5. It feeds mostly on carrion but when it hunts it usually favors wombat. However its diet varies depending on location and prey availability.
6. Although the devils are a solitary animal they spend their time eating socially. They alert other devils in the area with calls to gather and eat together.
7. They are considered fully grown at around 2 years old and can live up to 5 years old.
8. Breeding period is around February to June.
9. Gestation lasts around 21 days and around 20-30 young are born although around only 40% of the pups survive maturity.
10. The biggest threat to the Tasmanian Devil is the facial tumors that are contagious. They spread when the animals bite each other on the face due to social behavior. The tumors are aggressive and will almost always kill the animal.