# Tasmanian devil (*Sarcophilus harrisii*) The Tasmanian devil is a small, furry animal known for its loud growls and strong jaws. They are mostly black with white markings and are famous for their scavenging habits. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Tassie Devil ![Tasmanian devil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sarcophilus_harrisii_taranna.jpg&width=800) Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_taranna.jpg) ## Appearance The Tasmanian devil is a stocky, muscular marsupial with shaggy, dark brown to black fur, often displaying a white stripe or patches on its chest. It has a distinctive pink snout, large ears, and powerful jaws, giving it a fierce appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Dasyuromorphia - **Family:** Dasyuridae - **Genus:** Sarcophilus ## Interesting facts - Baby devils, called imps, are born as tiny as a grain of rice! - Devils can sprint as fast as a human for short distances! - Their famous loud screeches and growls can be heard far away! - They have the strongest bite for their size of any mammal! ## Special abilities - **Bone Crusher Bite:** Tasmanian devils have an incredibly strong bite force because of their robust skull and jaw muscles, helping them crush bones. - **Night Vision Navigator:** Tasmanian devils can see and hear well in the dark, using their excellent senses to find prey and avoid danger. - **Scent Detective:** Tasmanian devils can find food from far away because of their amazing sense of smell, helping them locate carcasses in the dark. - **Energy Tail:** Tasmanian devils can store fat in their tails, which helps them survive when food is scarce, like a built-in lunchbox! ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 57-65 cm - **Weight:** 6-12 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 24 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 21 days ## Diet & Feeding These fierce carnivores mainly scavenge on dead animals but also hunt small prey. - **Primary Foods:** Carcasses, Wallabies, Wombats, Birds, Reptiles, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Wedge-tailed eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Preys on young devils or scavenges their carcasses. - **Eats:** [Red-necked wallaby](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-necked-wallaby) (*Macropus rufogriseus*) — Hunts sick individuals and scavenges their remains. - **Eats:** Common wombat (*Vombatus ursinus*) — Scavenges on dead wombats and may prey on young. - **Eats:** [Eastern quoll](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-quoll) (*Dasyurus viverrinus*) — Devils sometimes prey on these smaller marsupials. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Tasmanian devils are wild animals, so it's best to admire them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tasmanian devil? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Tasmanian devil? 57-65 cm ### How much does Tasmanian devil weigh? 6-12 kg ### How long does Tasmanian devil live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Tasmanian devil move? 24 km/h ### What does Tasmanian devil eat? These fierce carnivores mainly scavenge on dead animals but also hunt small prey. ### Where is Tasmanian devil usually found? Forests ### How does Tasmanian devil hunt? Scavenging ## Where to spot - [Toledo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/toledo-zoo) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Zoo Duisburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-duisburg) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Tasmanian devil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tasmanian-devil)