Tasmanian Devil - Largest Marsupial Carnivore

Sarcophilus harrisii Under Threat by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease

Sep 7, 2009

This mammal that earned its common name due to its blood-curdling scream is under threat by a disease that causes cancerous facial tumours & leads to death within months.

The Tasmanian devil is a small carnivorous dog-like marsupial that feeds on carrion, small mammals (possums, wombats), insects, birds and fish that have washed ashore. It is a robustly built mammal with strong jaws and a blood-curdling scream. They have a reputation for being very aggressive, and though they fight amongst themselves from time to time, most of their aggressive displays are to avoid a fight.

Brief Overview of the Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is the largest living marsupial carnivore and is a shy and wary nocturnal animal and a very efficient scavenger. They spend their time sniffing the ground in search of the scent of food and once they locate their prey they pounce and bite at the chest or head of the prey. Several Tasmanian devils will scavenge from the same carcass and their strong jaws allow them to crush bones and chew up tough skin.

The Tasmanian devil nests inside hollow logs filled with leaves and grass or other hidden shelters such as wombat burrows. They reach maturity at 3 years of age and grow to be 52 – 80cm and the females weigh 6 - 8 kg, while the males weigh 10-12 kg. Mating is usually in March but can last until July and litters are between 1-4 pups. Young will stay in the mother's pouch for approximately 5 months and then they will be transferred to a grassy den until they are weaned at around 10 months of age. Lifespan is around 5-8 years in a healthy Tasmanian devil.

Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)

A disease known as the Tasmanian devil facial tumour/tumor disease (DFTD) is threatening to wipe out Tasmanian devil populations. The disease, discovered in 1996, causes cancerous tumors on the face and head of Tasmanian devils resulting in death of the affected animal and is a particularly rare form of cancer in that it can be spread to other Tasmanian devils. The tumors begin as small lesions in the mouth, develop quickly, thus preventing the animal from eating, which causes starvation along with the breaking down of body function resulting in death. Death can occur from 3-8 months once lesions have appeared.

The ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’, part of the Department of Primary Industries and Water, in Hobart, has implemented many management strategies to address this problem, including: population monitoring, disease diagnostics, wild management and captive management, to aid in reducing this disease and increasing populations of Tasmanian Devils which is currently considered a “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” species.

For more information on the Tasmanian devil or the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) see the Save the Tasmanian Devil website.

The copyright of the article Tasmanian Devil - Largest Marsupial Carnivore in Quadrupeds is owned by Roberta Goli. Permission to republish Tasmanian Devil - Largest Marsupial Carnivore in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.