The tazmanian Devil

The tazmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) belongs to the genus Sarcophilus, family Dasyuridae. It is a carnivorous marsupial that can only be found on the island of Tazmania where they are protected by law. They were hunted by locals until 1941 when the species became protected by law.
The tazmanian Devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world since the extinction of the marsupial tiger in 1936. The first description was made by naturalist George Harris in 1807. Over time the scientific name has undergone several changes. The original one was Didelphis ursina and the current one is Sarcophilus harrisii.
He was called the tazmanian Devil because of the specific screams that scared the first Europeans to come to the island. They were frightened by the aggressive temperament and black color of the animal and simply told him: devil.
Fossils found in Australia prove that the Tazmanian Devil lived there two hundred years before the arrival of European conoliation.

Feeding the Tazmanian Devil

The tazmanian Devil can easily hunt animals larger than them. If necessary, they can take down a smaller kangaroo, but they prefer to profit from other animals.
This makes them Sanitary of the place. Eat meat resulting from leashes or hunted by other animals. Take advantage if an animal is hit by a car.
If opportunities arise, don't back down from the hunt. They gladly hunt rodents, snakes, birds, lizards and other animals. The preferred attack is the jugular or nape (murder by asphyxiation).
Their food depends on the opportunity. The daily average is 15% of their body weight, but they can devour up to 40% of their weight in half an hour. When you're hungry, you can't even see the animal behind you.
Local farmers are grateful to him for preventing the spread of insects.
Some individuals suffer over time a facial tumor that prevents them from feeding and because of this many individuals die of hunger. Once infected, the animal dies within about a year. Scientists are trying to find an antidote to this plague.

Features Tazmanian Devil

The tazmanian Devil is a small animal. It has a body length of 65cm and a tail length of 25cm. The tail is almost half the length of the body. Males are larger than females. They weigh 10-12kg and they 6-8kg.
He has very well developed muscles. The coat is black and has irregular streaks or spots in the chest area. Its powerful muscles and teeth allow it to break the skin and bones of the animals it feeds on with relative ease. The front legs are larger than the back.
It can eliminate unpleasant odor when needed or when marking its territory. Maturity is reached at the age of three. It can run up to 15km / h for short distances. Fat is deposited in the tail. The thicker the tail, the healthier they are. At the base of the tail there are also glands that secrete unpleasant odor.
The senses of the Tazmanian Devil are highly developed. It can easily locate prey at night with the help of sight and hearing and smell. It has a small disadvantage, it detects moving objects or prey better than static ones. Young people can climb trees. Tazmanian Devils are good swimmers.
If you look at its size, the Tazmanian Devil Has the strongest bite in the world, at 35,000 Kpa. Its teeth grow throughout life and resemble those of the hyena. The occupied territory is 8-20km square.

Reproduction Tazmanian Devil

Females of the tazmanian Devil begin breeding when they are sexually fit, that is, in the second year of life. Mating usually takes place in March several times, both day and night. The female mates with the dominant male. If they are not guarded after mating, they will mate with other males.
After mating occurs gestation period lasting three weeks. After gestation demela gives birth to an impressive number of Cubs: 20-30. One chicken weighs 20-25 grams. As soon as they are born, the battle between the Cubs begins.
The first four to reach the marsupial survive. The female has only 4 nipples and each chick that catches one remains attached to it for the next 3 months. Female offspring have a higher survival rate.
In marsupial we can say that it is another stage of development until they begin to live. The eyelids and whiskers become visible after 16 days, and the fur begins to grow after almost 50 days. At the age of 3 months the fur completely develops.
After 100 days they leave the marsupial permanently at the weight of 500 grams. The next 3 months they spend with the mother who takes care of them, the period when they do not return to marsupium.
Due to the genetic disease suffered by the Tazmanian Devil in recent years the birth rate has changed, the female giving birth earlier to Cubs.
Life expectancy in the Wild is 7 years. In captivity he lives longer.