Tasmanian devils have recently become very popular exotic pets, especially in the United States. Every day everything more people neglects traditional pets like cats and dogs to buy lovable Tasmanian devils. Although Tasmanian devils have gotten a bad reputation thanks to the bad Looney Tunes character Taz, they truly are one of the most lovable animals to have in your home. Let's find out a little more about our new furry friend.
Character and behavior of the Tasmanian devil
Tasmanian devils have a uniquely grumpy disposition and will fly into manic rages when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending their prey. Early European settlers nicknamed it "the devil" after witnessing similar displays in which it bared its teeth, attacked, and let out a chilling, guttural roar.
Photo. Cartoon hero, Taz
This amazingly vicious mammal has coarse brown or black fur, and its stocky build reminds us of a growing bear cub. Most of them have white stripe or a spot on the chest, as well as light spots on the sides or back. These animals have short hind legs and long front legs, which gives them the gait of a pig.
Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, reaching 76 cm (30 in) in length and up to 12 kg (26 lb) in weight, although its size varies depending on the specific habitat and food availability. The non-standard size head is armed with strong muscular jaws and sharp teeth. In terms of bite force per unit weight, its bite is one of the most powerful bites among mammals.
The Tasmanian devil is clearly a carnivore, hunting small prey such as snakes, fish, birds and insects and often feasting on carrion in groups. They often make a lot of noise as they fight for position while eating a large carcass. Like other marsupials, when they are well fed, their tails swell with stored fat.
Tasmanian devils are hermits and lead night image life, spending their days in burrows, caves or hollow logs and emerging at night to feed. They use their excellent sense of smell, long whiskers and eyesight to avoid predators and find prey or carrion. They eat almost anything they can get their teeth into, and when they do find food, they are very voracious, eating everything including organs, hair and bones.
Females give birth after three weeks of gestation to 20 to 30 very tiny babies. These raisin-sized babies crawl through their mother's fur and into her pouch. However, the mother only has four nipples, so not all babies survive. Babies emerge from the pouch after about four months and, as a rule, are weaned by their mother in the sixth month or do so on their own in the eighth month.
Previously, Tasmanian devils lived throughout Australia, today they are found in wild conditions can be seen on the island state of Tasmania of the same name. In Tasmania, they live throughout the island, although some can be found in coastal forests and bushes. Experts believe that their disappearance on the mainland is due to the appearance of the dingo or Asian dogs.
In the late 1800s, efforts to eradicate Tasmanian devils (farmers mistakenly believed they were killing livestock, although they have been known to kill poultry) were very successful. In 1941, the Australian government classified the Tasmanian devil as a protected species, and today its numbers are constantly growing.
Endangered
In the mid-90s it was discovered terrible disease, due to which tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils died. This disease is called Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and is a rapidly spreading rare view cancer, which causes large tumors to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it difficult for the animal to eat. Eventually, the animal dies of starvation. Experts on these animals are focused on a captive breeding program to save this species from extinction. Due to the DFTD outbreak, the Australian government has classified Tasmanian devils as a vulnerable species.
Video. Angry Tasmanian devil
Fortunately, a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, in which scientists studied samples of these animals dating from 1999-2014, reports that the Tasmanian devil genome is rapidly mutating. Seven genes have been discovered that characterize immunity to cancer in humans. Therefore, scientists are confident that the Tasmanian devil will survive and develop immunity to this incurable disease.
Some Interesting Facts about the Tasmanian devil
1. Insanely powerful bite. Tasmanian devils do not attack humans unless provoked, but they are not afraid to defend themselves. When they bite, their powerful jaws can cause great harm. Their bite per unit body weight is 540 kg per square inch! This is strong enough to break the metal trap.
2. Small but fierce. These strong animals can swim across the river and climb onto the most tall tree. If necessary, they are capable of running for an hour at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.
Photo. Tasmanian Devil's Mouth
3. Signaling ears. If you're not entirely sure whether a Tasmanian devil is angry (growling doesn't count), pay attention to the color of its ears. An angry Tasmanian Devil's ears will change in color from pink to bright fiery red.
4. Secret weapon. Even though they are ferocious, they prefer to run away rather than fight another animal. If they feel threatened by other animal species, they can release a terrible odor that resembles that of a skunk. When preparing for a confrontation with another Tasmanian devil, these creatures warn of their displeasure by sneezing and roaring similar to that made by a pig when it is slaughtered.
5. Big appetite. Tasmanian devils eat 5-10% of their body weight in food every day. If they are really hungry, these creatures are known to be able to eat up to 40% of their body weight in just 30 minutes.
6. Scientific name. Official scientific name Tasmanian devil - Sarcophilus Harrisii, which is translated from Latin language means "lover of flesh."
7. As a symbol. Tasmanian devil is a symbol of both the Tasmanian Service national parks and wildlife, as well former team Australian football, Tasmanian Devils. He also received his own commemorative Australian dollar coin in the early 1990s. This animal is also very popular among tourists.
8. Nocturnal animals. Although these animals are not very numerous, the chances of seeing them increase if you drive through national parks or high mountain lakes after dark.
9. Tails are a sign of health. The Tasmanian devil's tail stores fat, and if its tail is skinny, then it sure sign sick or starving animal.
10. Females have pouches. The pouch in females is shaped like a horseshoe and opens backwards. This is a very clever design and avoids dirt filling the bag when the animal digs. There are only 4 nipples in the bag.
Video. Glutton in Tasmania
Tasmanian devil as a pet
Before you decide to get this animal, you should read this section of the article. Tasmanian devils do not like water. Devils are known to go into "psychotic rages" when forced to take baths. During this time they become very confused and anxious, they may run in circles endlessly and crash into a wall at top speed.
Unlike cats and dogs, the Tasmanian devil is easy to feed. They eat any remains, carrion and corpses. They also enjoy live food and are happy to hunt down and eat something, even if it means fighting. Their prey can be: cats, ferrets, dogs, iguanas, cows, horses and even elephants. Yes, you are probably wondering how they can kill an elephant? They have so much strong jaws that with them they can crush the head of elephants like a vice like a coconut.
Tasmanian devils also have many cute traits. They can be friendly, pleasant and even loving... as long as they are not irritated. Tasmanian devils can be irritated by many things, such as turning on the TV, changing the lights, talking, children laughing and being petted.
When they become violently angry, they often try to break windows, tear apart furniture that gets in their way, and violently attack small children. At this time, the main thing is not to scare them away.
It is also important to understand that Tasmanian devils are nocturnal animals. They love to wander around the house late at night and make their beautiful (but loud) repeated squeals. They also love to copulate, confusing anything with their potential partner. “Anything” could be: clothes from a laundry basket, a coffee table, even a human leg. At this time, they tend to squeal wildly and bite.
To conclude, Tasmanian devils are not very good pets to keep. They are very energetic, fierce and capable of attacking you and other animals.
About the attacks of the Tasmanian devil on people
There are very few reports of attacks by Tasmanian devils on people; as a rule, people escaped with cuts and wounds on their arms (fed by hand) and legs. But there is definitely not a single report of a Tasmanian devil killing a person. Most often, tourists who suffer from these animals are those who have never seen such marvelous, voracious animals roaring like pigs.
Newly released Tasmanian devils on Mariah Island have caused serious harm to visitors by preying on birds and harassing people, the operator of a ferry at a popular tourist destination has said.
John Cole-Cook is afraid to take his child with him because he fears for him. Some of the Tasmanian devils have grown as large as Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) and have become especially brazen towards people. Some of them have already bitten tourists.
28 Tasmanian devils were released on Mariah Island, which is home to a world heritage site listed in 2012 by Darlington Probation Station. This was done as part of a plan to create a healthy population to protect them from the Tasmanian demon facial tumor, which is decimating animals in Tasmania.
This initial population has now grown to almost 100 individuals and Cole-Cook wants them fenced for reasons public safety. Cole-Cook said that previously on the Cape, geese calmly laid eggs and nursed chickens, the same applies to other birds.
But now the island's once prolific bird population is dwindling due to the Tasmanian devil's more brazen interactions with humans.
"After all, they can do serious harm small child" Cole-Cook said. “Already, several tourists who have been hand-fed by Tasmanian devils have been bitten, and they have also been found in tents and on beds in campgrounds.”
“These devils are big, almost like blue heelers.” Cole-Cook said 16 Tasmanian devils that bit tourists on Mariah were deported back to Tasmania last week.
But the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and environment(DPIPWE), said the Tasmanian devils were sent back to support other protected groups and not because of "bad behaviour".
"Some of the older released animals were familiar and comfortable around people, but only one animal was removed from the island due to contact with people," he said.
“This animal doesn’t bite anyone, but holds its ground when cornered.” Cole-Cook advised tourists not to hand-feed Tasmanian devils, but he said many ignored the advice.
He said the Tasmanian devil relocation program had merit but it now needed to be rethought.
"It's time to confine them to some part of the island," he said.
DPIPWE said Mariah Island was chosen specifically because it was home to other introduced species such as the chicken goose.
“This is being done to ensure population sustainability to maximize genetic diversity and minimize their impact on other native species in the National Park.”
Being the largest of modern predatory marsupials, this black animal with white spots on the chest and rump, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth has a dense physique and a stern disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the Tasmanian devil (lat. Sarcophilus harrisii). Emitting ominous screams at night, the massive and clumsy beast looks like little bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, the head is large, the muzzle is blunt.
Sarcophilus (Greek) lover of flesh) is the name of its genus. These animals reach 50-80 cm in length, up to 30 cm in height and 12 kg in weight, the tail length is up to 30 cm. The female’s pouch opens backwards. Males are larger than females, but in principle a lot depends on age, nutrition and habitat: the size and weight of the animals can change in one direction or another.
But what is invariable for everyone is small pink ears, short hair, a strong tail (where fat reserves are stored), large claws and the absence of hind limbs first finger. , endowed by nature with sharp, strong teeth, is capable of taking a bite and crushing not only the bone, but also the spine of its prey with one bite!
Previously, this amazing animal lived on mainland Australia, but today the Tasmanian devil can only be found on the island of Tasmania. It is assumed that it was squeezed out by wild ones brought to the mainland by the aborigines. European settlers also did not spare the Tasmanian devil, mercilessly exterminating its family due to the animal’s habit of destroying chicken coops.
In 1941, an official ban on hunting the Tasmanian devil literally saved these animals from complete extinction from the face of the Earth. Currently they live in national parks Tasmania, in the northern, western and central parts of the island, living in almost any landscape conditions, with the exception of densely populated regions.
As for the lifestyle and diet of the Tasmanian devil, inhabiting coastal savannas, dry sclerophyll and mixed sclerophyll-rain forests, they feed mainly on carrion, small animals (rats, rabbits) and birds. Insects, snakes and amphibians are also used.
The Tasmanian devil is very voracious: in a day he must eat 15% of his body weight. If he does not eat enough food of animal origin, he can snack on plant tubers and edible roots. The animal is active at night, hiding in dense bushes and rock crevices during the day.
The animals live in burrows and under the trunk of a fallen tree, making nests out of leaves, bark and grass. Loves to walk along the shore of a pond, eating nearby frogs, crayfish and other small ones aquatic life. Possessing an excellent sense of smell, the Tasmanian devil can smell carrion from a great distance.
Here size doesn’t matter - if necessary, he will eat both a sheep and a cow! I am especially pleased if the meat is properly rotten and decomposed. Going in search of prey, which the Tasmanian devil eats completely, along with bones and wool, he can fight for it with the marsupial marten.
By nature, Tasmanian devils are loners. They gather in groups only in one case - when they need to eat something large. At the same time, they fight and growl loudly, squeak, scream, making a wide variety of sounds, which earns them an additional bad reputation.
Representing scavengers, the Tasmanian devil plays vital role in the Tasmanian ecosystem, significantly reducing the likelihood of blowfly infestation in sheep. Despite its harsh temperament, the Tasmanian devil can be tamed and kept as a pet. But you just don’t need to scare him, otherwise he will make bad smell.
Marsupials, as everyone knows, live in Australia, New Guinea and the surrounding islands. The exception is American opossums. Marsupials are closer to primitive animals that fed their offspring in pouches on their stomachs.
In the process of the struggle for existence, mammals with full intrauterine development won, since they were born stronger, developed better and surpassed in their vitality those who remained short term in the womb and was fed with milk in her sac for a long time.
Better adapted mammals replaced marsupials on every continent except Australia. Why they were preserved there and why this happened - no one has yet been able to convincingly explain.
One of these wonders is marsupial, or Tasmanian, devil(and that's the scientific name, not a nickname). It is a small bear-like predator with a body about 70 cm long. It has an unusually large gallop, a wide bulldog-like muzzle and big ears, covered with fur on the outside and completely naked on the inside, their pink skin contrasting with their black fur.
His nose, lips, and almost bare tip of his muzzle are also bare. Its tail looks like a large carrot: thick at the base, with a sharp tip. A white collar and two white spots stand out on the animal’s chest.
This is the portrait of the Tasmanian devil, which received its name not because of its scary appearance, but because it is considered the most rabid and aggressive creature in the world.
He most likely owes this reputation to the testimonies of hunters, amazed by the wild fury with which this clumsy-looking animal defends itself. And since it is rare, such a description was subsequently simply retold or reprinted many times.
The reputation of the poor devil firmly stuck to him. And only in the thirties of the last century, when the first specimens of these marsupials appeared in zoos, it became clear that it was built on random and incorrect observations. These devils are tamed no worse than other animals, even if they are taken into captivity as adults.
But upon closer acquaintance with them, it turns out that they give off a very unpleasant odor. Habits marsupial devil resembles a hyena - it feeds on carrion. All this repels a person from him, who involuntarily attributes all sins indiscriminately to the unpleasant creature.
It should be said that the devil’s food is not only carrion, he eats everything: frogs, insects, and even poisonous snakes. In addition to its gluttony, this animal is distinguished by its indiscriminate eating habits - echidna needles, pieces of rubber, silver foil, pieces of leather boots and harness, dish towels and undigested carrots and ears of corn were found in its excrement.
His hunting passion manifested itself in one funny incident: when a male devil ran into open doors home and tried to drag away the cat who was dozing on the fireplace.
Another reason why hunters do not like him is his ability to spoil snares. With his strong teeth he is able to gnaw even iron bars.
The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, but at the same time it is very noisy: the animal lapping water can be heard 25 meters away. Male devils scream just as loudly, forgetting all caution, during fights, their wild cries carry far in the silence of the night.
As for the offspring, the name “devil” seems most appropriate here, because males happen to eat their cubs, and even at the moment when they, completely helpless, emerge from the mother’s pouch. Devilish, to put it bluntly, concern. However, we must remember that such a phenomenon as eating offspring is not so rare in the animal world, for example, among domestic pigs.
But at the moment when the marsupial devil sets up a “family nest”, the male works equally with the female. In holes from uprooted trees, in the hollows of fallen trunks, future parents line the bottom with bark, grass and leaves. The number of cubs that will appear in late May - early June reaches four, and the mother has the same number of teats in her pouch.
For the first time, the offspring of the marsupial devil were obtained in captivity in the 40s of the last century. At the beginning of June, four small pink, naked and blind creatures, barely one and a half centimeters long, appeared in the female's pouch, which was kept together with the male. After seven weeks, they had grown to eight centimeters, were already moving their legs and speaking.
At one and a half months they were overgrown with black fur, but only at the age of fifteen weeks did they finally break away from their mother’s nipples, which they had been holding on to continuously until then. They opened their eyes and at the eighteenth week they began to climb out of the bag and show interest in playing. At the slightest danger, however, they huddled close to their mother, trying to climb into the bag on their own.
As further observations showed, in captivity these animals do not live long - seven years at most.
But why does the marsupial devil live not in Australia, like all marsupials, but on a small island south of this continent? As fossil remains have shown, it used to live in Australia, like the second marsupial predator - the marsupial wolf, but was forced out of there in ancient times. It is unknown who brought it to Tasmania, it was preserved only on this relatively small area of land.
Tasmanian devils caused a lot of trouble for European settlers, destroying chicken coops, eating animals caught in traps, and allegedly attacking lambs and sheep, which is why these animals were actively persecuted. In addition, the meat of the marsupial devil turned out to be edible and, according to the colonists, tasted like veal.
By June 1941, when legislation was passed to protect the Tasmanian devil, it was on the verge of extinction. However, unlike marsupial wolf, which became extinct in 1936, the population of marsupial devils has been restored.
Most great danger for devils in our time it is a contagious tumor. For the first time, a fatal disease called devil facial tumor disease ( devil's facial tumor disease, "devil's facial tumor"), or DFTD, was registered in 1999. Over the past period, according to various estimates, from 20 to 50% of the population of marsupial devils died from it, mainly in the eastern part of the island.
There is currently no cure for DFTD. To restore the population, devil cubs are raised in special nurseries and then released into the wild.
Ecology
Basics:
Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world. Adults are the size of an average dog and have stocky and muscular bodies. They can reach 80 centimeters in length and weigh up to 12 kilograms.
Devils have black fur and white stripe on the chest. They usually lead a solitary lifestyle, but sometimes they can unite in small flocks while eating the carcass of a large animal.
Unlike others marsupials of Australia, Tasmanian devils can be active during the day, although they are nocturnal hunters. Devils were named by European explorers who heard their loud, shrill calls and observed their ferocious nature during feeding and mating season.
According to research, Tasmanian devils' enormous heads and necks allow them to deliver the strongest bite per unit of body weight of any land predator, and their jaws are strong enough to bite through metal traps.
Despite the fact that Tasmanian devils look fat, they are excellent at climbing trees and swimming across stormy rivers. Devils cannot run fast to catch prey, but they are quite durable and can run at speeds of 24 kilometers per hour for an hour.
Tasmanian devils feed on the meat of snakes and birds, fish and insects. Their victims can be animals the size of a small kangaroo. When hunting, Tasmanian devils rely on their keen eyesight and excellent sense of smell. They are not particularly picky eaters and will eat all parts of an animal's body, including fur and bones. Sometimes devils bury animal corpses in the ground and then eat the carrion.
Female Tasmanian devils give birth after 3 weeks of pregnancy and give birth to 20-30 very tiny cubs. These pea-sized babies get into the pouch, but not all survive, since the mother has only 4 nipples. After 4 months of living in the pouch, the evil devils emerge from it, but are still dependent on the mother. At the age of 8 months they begin to lead an independent life. IN wildlife The life expectancy of these animals is 7-8 years.
Habitats:
Tasmanian devils once lived throughout almost all of Australia, but today they live exclusively on the island of Tasmania. Researchers believe that devils disappeared from the mainland at the same time that native tribes spread across Australia, and wild dingoes appeared about 3 thousand years ago.
Today, Tasmanian devils, as the name suggests, live on the island of Tasmania, but most of these animals can be found in wooded areas off the coast. In the 19th century, Tasmanian devils began to be mercilessly exterminated, as local farmers viewed them as sworn enemies of their livestock. They almost became extinct, but timely measures taken to save these animals allowed them to increase their populations.
Security status: an endangered species
Tasmanian devils became protected in 1941, but last decade their population has dropped by 60 percent. Scientists believe that the reason for the decline in animal numbers is mainly due to an infectious, deadly form of cancer that affects devils and spreads very quickly. Tumors form on the devils' faces, making it more difficult for the animals to eat. The devils problem is also movement. road transport on the roads.
Tasmanian devils are known to start eating dead animals from their digestive system, since these are the softest organs.
Devils can eat food weighing 5-10 percent of their own body weight per day, and even more if they are very hungry. Given the opportunity, the devil can eat food that is 40 percent of his weight, and in record short time- in half an hour.
Devils have several natural enemies. Small individuals can fall prey to eagles, owls, and even their relative, the spotted-tailed marsupial.
These animals can emit a disgusting odor when under stress.
Animals can open their mouths very wide when they want to express fear or hesitancy. To challenge another devil to a duel, animals make shrill sounds.
The tail of a healthy devil contains good reserves fat, so sick animals have very skinny and flabby tails.
Latin name of animals - Sarcophilus laniarius literally translated means "Harris Meat Lover" named after the researcher who first described the Tasmanian devil.
The animal, which belongs to the marsupial organisms, has a second name - the Tasmanian devil. Lives only on the island of Tasmania.
Indeed, one cannot envy his appearance; of course, he is not so handsome. The body of the predator has well-developed muscles and is covered with black fur.
The marsupial devil has a large head, short legs and a rather unpleasant voice, but you can live with that. But his character and habits leave much to be desired.
The animal is famous for its exorbitant appetite and bite force. Leads a solitary nocturnal lifestyle, during the day it hides in dense bushes, but sometimes gathers in small flocks.
He is a predator, and like all animals leading such a lifestyle, he causes a negative attitude in people. In general, he is not the devil, in the literal sense of the word, and that’s what the people he called him called. When exploring the island of Tasmania, man first encountered this animal, and at first did not pay any attention to the marsupial devil. But the predator immediately made himself known by stealing the reserves of meat products from the first colonists and destroying all the chickens that the settlers brought.
People began to systematically exterminate the poor animal; who would want an unknown animal to rule with impunity? Moreover, people liked the meat of the marsupial devil himself. The hunting was so intense that this animal was preserved in very small quantities; it now lives high in the mountains in completely deserted areas.
The Tasmanian devil is a rare endangered species, so it is carefully protected by law. In Australia it is not found at all; farmers have practically gotten rid of it. But many scientists believe that this animal is not so terrible and dangerous, and the almost complete extermination of the animal should not have been allowed. People are usually frightened by the loud scream that an animal makes in moments of danger, but these sounds are more reminiscent of a strong grinding sound. In addition, when enemies attack, the devil scares them away unpleasant smell, like a skunk. Any animal, if attacked, is forced to defend itself, showing all its cruel, bestial qualities. Anyone who has observed the behavior of the Tasmanian devil in the zoo doubts its disgusting features.
Young marsupial devils are tamed quite easily, become funny, you can play with them like dogs, but under no circumstances should they be allowed near the chicken coop; poultry is the animal’s favorite prey.
Listen to the voice of the Tasmanian (marsupial) devil
If you look closely, the devil has a rather pretty face, a well-groomed skin, they wash themselves, moisten their palms with saliva and wipe their fur. Appearance the devil, if you are completely unaware of his pranks, does not make a repulsive impression on people.
Previously, no one had studied the habits of this animal, and only when it became a rare animal did scientists compose a description external signs and characteristics of the devil's behavior. At the same time, interesting facts were discovered: adult animals are very caring parents, they have to work hard to raise their cub. After all, a newborn baby born into the world has a body size of a little more than a centimeter, while its parents reach a body length of more than half a meter. So the baby has to sit in his mother’s bag until his eyes open and at least some semblance of hair appears.
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