Baggy devil. Tasmanian or marsupial devil Animal devil tasmania

Tasmania country of devils November 16th, 2013

by the most large predator Australian island of Tasmania is the Tasmanian devil from the marsupial family. In size, the animal is no larger than a dog; body length of an adult reaches 50-80 cm, tail - 23-30 cm. It has a short thick black coat with white spots on the sacrum, sides and chest. The Tasmanian devil boasts strong jaws and sharp teeth. A predator is able to bite through its victim's spine or skull with one bite. It feeds mainly on small mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and does not disdain carrion. Also notable for his ability to portray great amount sounds ranging from coughing to piercing screeches. There is an opinion that it is thanks to the peculiar cries that the animal got its name "devil". This animal is endowed with an excellent sense of smell, can develop a fairly high speed (up to 15 km / h), climb trees and swim.

But let's talk about it in more detail...

The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial predator that is found in the wild only on the island of Tasmania. The only representative of the genus Sacrofilius, which in Greek means a lover of flesh. After the last of the marsupial wolves disappeared in 1936, marsupial devil became the largest marsupial predator. It is also called the marsupial tiger. He was a cross between a wolf and a tiger. So, the devil is the wolf-tiger's closest relative and is itself something between a marsupial tiger wolf and a marsupial marten.

Sarcophilus (gr. Flesh lover) is the name of its genus.

He kills his victims very brutally and smells very bad and squeals loudly when he is frightened. The Tasmanian devil is about the size of a small dog, thick and stocky. It hunts at night, in this it is helped by black wool, which hides it well in the dark. Poorly sees motionless objects in the dark, but well - moving. A small kangaroo can also kill (despite the fact that it hunts alone), but usually does not bother with this, preferring to eat carrion. When eating an animal, the Tasmanian devils eat it whole, even wool and bones. In this they are beneficial, because they leave nothing to the insects and thus prevent their exorbitant reproduction.

These animals accumulate fat in the tail, which, as a rule, is thick and long. If the tail of the tiger wolf marten is thin, this indicates that the animal is unhealthy. Previously, the devil was also found in Australia, but disappeared from there 400 years ago, even before the Europeans settled there, dingoes and indigenous Australians survived them from there. In Tasmania, many farmers also dreamed of eradicating this beast, because - according to their assumptions - the Tasmanian devil must certainly drag cows from the herd and other livestock. And the first European settlers in Tasmania not only killed these dogs, but also ate and praised them.

In Australia, the Tasmanian devil is a very popular animal. They like to depict him on money, coats of arms and all that, sports teams are named after him. International fame for this animal was brought by the animated series produced by Looney Tunes about the Tasmanian devil Taz. In these cartoons, however, the character acts more like a person, but also from an animal, in addition to a large head, long fangs and short legs, character traits- Taz in the cartoon, like all Tasmanian devils, is noisy, gluttonous and modest.

The Tasmanian devil is very voracious: he must eat 15% of his body weight per day. If he does not eat up food of animal origin, then he can eat both plant tubers and edible roots. The animal shows activity at night, during the day hiding in dense bushes and crevices of stones.

Live Tasmanian devil can be seen, basically, only in Australia, because the export of these animals is now prohibited. The last of the foreign devils died in the United States in 2004. However, in 2005, the Tasmanian government made an exception and presented two Tasmanian devils to Frederick, crown prince Denmark, and his Tasmanian wife Mary after the birth of their first son. Now these gifts live in the Copenhagen Zoo.

In a calm state, the marsupial devil is rather slow and clumsy, but in emergency situations it switches to a gallop, reaching a speed of up to 13-15 km / h. Young animals are agile and mobile, they climb trees well. Adults climb worse, but they are able to climb sloping trunks and climb perches in chicken coops. Marsupial devils are good swimmers.

Thanks to aggressive temper and nocturnal, the adult marsupial devil has few natural enemies. Previously, marsupial wolves and dingoes hunted them. Young marsupial devils sometimes fall prey to birds of prey and tiger marsupial martens(Dasyurus maculatus). The new enemy and food competitor of the Tasmanian devil has become common fox, smuggled into Tasmania in 2001.

Tasmanian devils caused a lot of trouble for European settlers, ruining chicken coops, eating animals caught in traps, and allegedly attacking lambs and sheep, because of which 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 the Tasmanian Devil Protection Act was passed, it was on the brink of complete disappearance. However, unlike the thylacine (extinct in 1936), the population of marsupial devils was restored and now they are quite numerous. Their population, like that of the quolls, is subject to strong seasonal fluctuations, since every year in the summer (December-January), young marsupial devils leave their mothers and disperse throughout the territory in search of food. However, 60% of them die within the first few months, unable to withstand food competition.

The penultimate sharp decline in the number of marsupial devils took place in 1950; before the start of the DFTD epidemic, their population was estimated at 100,000 to 150,000 individuals, with a density of 20 individuals for every 10-20 km².

Tasmanian devil. (Rune Johnsson's snapshots)

An animal that belongs to marsupial organisms has a second name - the Tasmanian devil. Lives only on the island of Tasmania.

Indeed, you will not 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 paws and a rather unpleasant voice, but you can put up with it. But his disposition and habits leave much to be desired.

The animal is famous for its exorbitant appetite and bite power. It leads a solitary nocturnal lifestyle, hides in dense bushes during the day, but sometimes gathers in small flocks.

It is a predator, and like all animals that lead such a lifestyle, it causes a negative attitude among people. In general, he is not a devil, in literally this word, and so called him the people whom he did a good job. During the development of the island of Tasmania, a person first encountered this animal, and at first did not pay any attention to the marsupial devil. But the predator immediately reminded of itself, plundering the stocks of meat products from the first colonists and destroying all the chickens brought by the settlers.

People have begun the methodical extermination of the poor animal, who would want an unknown beast to rule with impunity? Moreover, the meat of the marsupial devil itself was to the taste of people. The hunting was so intense that this beast was preserved in very small quantities, it now lives high in the mountains in completely deserted areas.

In Australia, it is not found at all; farmers have practically got rid of it. But many scientists believe that this beast is not so terrible and dangerous, and it was impossible to allow the almost complete extermination of the animal. People are usually frightened by the loud cry that the animal makes in moments of danger, but these sounds are more like a strong rattle. In addition, when enemies attack, the devil scares them off with an unpleasant smell, like a skunk. Any animal, if attacked, is forced to defend itself, showing all its cruel, bestial qualities. Those who have observed the behavior of the Tasmanian devil in the zoo doubt its disgusting features.

Young marsupial devils are tamed quite easily, they become funny, you can play with them like with dogs, but in no case should they be allowed to the chicken coop, poultry is the favorite prey of the beast.

Listen to the voice of the Tasmanian (marsupial) devil

If you look closely, the devil has a rather pretty muzzle, well-groomed skin, they wash themselves, moisten their palms with saliva and wipe their fur. The appearance of the devil, if you are completely unaware of his pranks, does not make a repulsive impression on people.

Previously, no one studied the habits of this beast, and only when it became a rare animal, scientists compiled a description of the external signs and behavior of the devil. At the same time, they discovered Interesting Facts: adult animals are very caring parents, they have to work hard to raise their cub. After all, a newborn baby that was born has a body size slightly larger than a centimeter, while her parents reach a body length of more than half a meter. So the baby has to sit out in his mother's bag until his eyes open and at least a semblance of hair appears.

Classical zoological science identifies in its systematics up to 5,500 modern species mammals. All of them differ markedly from each other in size, areola, structure and outward signs. One of the most specific animals of this class was a warlike predator, which received the name of the Tasmanian devil.

It is the only representative of its kind, however, scientists have noted its significant similarity with the quolls and most distantly with the extinct marsupial wolf thylacine.

Why is the Tasmanian devil called that?

It was the terrible screams and sharp teeth that gave people reason to call this animal the "devil"

In 1803, when a dilapidated boat of English officers, sailors and convicts moored on the banks of the wide river Derwent, located south of Tasmania, its composition met with a ferocious marsupial predator.

In their diaries, the settlers of the island immediately noted his formidable growl, mixed with piercing cries and a toothy mouth.

The predator has been described as immensely wild and extremely dangerous pest for livestock. Its sharp teeth were so developed that it chewed on the large bones of domesticated animals, crushed hard cartilage, and ate carrion.

It is worth noting that disputes still arise among people regarding the correct name of this animal. Disagreements are built around two phrases similar in sound - "Tasmanian devil" and "Tasmanian devil".

This animal was named the Tasmanian devil in the university work “The Extinction of Ancient Reptiles and Mammals” by the Soviet paleontologist L.K. Gabunia. This variant is found in fiction, covering the books of Yu. B. Nagibin, D. A. Krymov, and in popular science works, including V. F. Petrov.

As of 2018, all leading media Russian Federation and scientific publications in their materials designate this predator with the word "Tasmanian", which gives reason to assume the correctness of this particular option.

What does it look like

With its outlines, the island "devil" resembles a dense and squat dog

The Tasmanian devil has officially been recognized as the largest living carnivorous marsupial on planet Earth. He entered the detachment and family of the Australian predatory marsupials. Compared to its entire body, the predator's head is quite impressive in size.

Behind the anus, the devil has a short and thick tail. In its structure, it differs from the body parts of other mammals, as it accumulates fat reserves. In sick predatory marsupials, the tail acquires a thin and frail shape. Over its area grow long hair, which are often wiped on the ground, and then the movable appendage on the back of the animal's body remains almost naked.

The front legs of the Tasmanian devil are slightly longer than its hind legs. Thus, marsupials are capable of reaching speeds of up to 13 km / h, but they are only enough for short distances.

Fur is usually dyed black. Often there are rare white spots and peas on the chest (although about 16% of wild devils do not have such pigmentation).

Males reach greater length and mass than females:

• The average weight of a male is 8 kilograms with a body length of 65 centimeters.
• Women's - 6 kilograms with a length of 57 centimeters.

Large males weigh up to 12 kilograms, although it is worth considering that devils in western Tasmania tend to be smaller.

Marsupials have five long toes on their front feet. Four of them are directed strictly forward, and one looks out from the side, which allows the devil to more comfortably hold food.

The first finger on the hind limbs is absent, but there are still large claws that contribute to a strong grip and tearing food.

The Tasmanian Devil has the most strong bite regarding size own body. Its grip cannot be compared to other mammals. The compression force is 553 N. The jaw can open up to 75–80°, allowing the devil to generate more power to tear meat and crush bones.

The devil has long whiskers on its face, which are endowed with the function of smell and help the predator find prey in the dark. Its sense of smell is able to recognize odors at a distance of up to 1 kilometer, which contributes to the calculation of the victim.

Because devils hunt at night, their vision seems to be sharpest at night. Under these conditions, they can easily detect moving objects, but have difficulty seeing stationary elements of the surrounding world.

Habitat

The Tasmanian Devil is endemic to Australia.

Devils inhabit all places in the Australian state of Tasmania, including the outskirts of urban areas.. They spread throughout the Tasmanian mainland and mastered its nearby parts, for example, Robbins Island.

Up to a certain point, mentions of a marsupial predator on the island of Bruni are known, but after the 19th century no one met him in this region. It is assumed that from other areas the Tasmanian devil was driven out and exterminated by dingo dogs introduced by the natives.

Now these mammals are found daily in the central, northern and western parts of the island in areas designated for sheep pastures, as well as in the national parks of Tasmania.

Lifestyle

The Tasmanian Devil is a nocturnal and dusk hunter. He spends the daytime in a dense bush or a deep hole.

Young devils can climb trees, but this becomes increasingly difficult as they grow older. Adult predators can devour young members of their family if they are very hungry. Therefore, climbing and moving through trees became a means of survival for young individuals, allowing them to hide from their ferocious brethren.

Devils also thrive in water and are able to swim. It follows from the observation that predators can cross a river 50 meters wide. Predators are not afraid of cold waterways.

What does it eat

Tasmanian devils are practically omnivores.

Tasmanian devils have the ability to overpower prey the size of small kangaroos. However, in practice, they are more opportunistic and eat carrion more often than they hunt live animals.

Devils are able to devour food weighing up to 40% of their own body weight per day with a special feeling of hunger.

Despite the fact that the devil's favorite food is wombats, he will not refuse to feast on other local mammals. Predators may be affected by:

• opossum rats;
• potor;
• livestock (including sheep);
• birds;
• fish;
• insects,
• frogs;
• reptiles.

The facts of hunting of marsupial devils for water rats near the sea are documented. They also don't mind eating dead fish that have washed ashore.

Near human habitation, they often steal shoes and chew them into small pieces. Surprisingly, the predators also consumed the collars and tags of the eaten animals, jeans, plastic, etc.

Mammals inspect flocks of sheep, sniffing them from a distance of 10-15 meters and begin to act if they understand that the victim has no chance to resist them.

The study of devils during their meal has established twenty sounds that act as a means of communication.

Mammals try to show their dominance through a ferocious roar or by taking up a fighting pose. Adult males are the most aggressive, standing on their hind legs and attacking each other with their forelimbs, similar to sumo wrestling.

Sometimes the Tasmanian devil can be seen torn flesh around the mouth and teeth, which were harmed during the fight.

Behavioral Features

Animals do not consolidate into groups, but spend most of their time alone, when they cease to feed on their mother's breasts. In the classical view, these predators were described as solitary animals, but their biological relationships have not been studied in detail. A study published in 2009 shed some light on this.

tasmanian devils in national park The Narauntapoos were equipped with radars that recorded their interactions with other individuals over several months from February to June 2006. This showed that all mammals were part of one huge contact network, characterized by interaction between each other.

Tasmanian devil families set up three or four dens to improve their own security. Minks, previously owned by wombats, are used by females during their pregnancy due to increased comfort and security.

Tasmanian devils prefer to live in burrows

Dense vegetation near streams, dense thorny grasses and caves are also great as a shelter. Adult predators live in the same minks until the end of their lives, which then pass to younger individuals.

In self-defense and intimidation of other animals, the Tasmanian devil is capable of making heartbreaking sounds. They can also growl hoarsely and grunt piercingly as danger approaches.

According to the general idea, a marsupial predator cannot threaten a person in any way. However, situations of attacks of these mammals on tourists are known. Therefore, when this animal is found nearby, it is better not to disturb it with provocative actions and be careful.

Diseases

The disease of these predatory animals, first encountered in 1996, was called the "facial tumor of the devil." According to statistical estimates, from 20% to 80% of the population of the Tasmanian devil suffered from its impact.

The tumor is characterized by high aggressiveness and almost guaranteed mortality of infected animals within 10–16 months.

This disease is an example of a transmissible disease that can be transmitted from one animal to another. As of 2018, no cure for facial tumors has been developed, so the animals have to look for natural mechanisms to combat this dysfunction. As it turned out, these animals have them:

• In mammals, the processes of sexual maturation have increased. The volume of pregnant females under the age of one year has increased significantly, which allows maintaining the reproductive component of the species at the proper level.
• A family of carnivorous marsupials began to breed all year round, while before mating season they only lasted a couple of months.

The diversity of transmissible tumors raises questions about the likelihood of the disease occurring in humans, the researchers warn.

reproduction

A female can give birth to up to 30 cubs

Females are ready to perform their reproductive functions upon reaching puberty. On average, their body is fully formed by the age of two. After this point, they are able to produce offspring a couple of times a year, producing several eggs.

The devil's reproductive cycle begins in March or April. During this period, there is an increased number of potential victims. Thus, the described time seasons coincide with the maximization of food supplies in wild nature. It is spent on newly born young Tasmanian devils.

Mating takes place in March in sheltered areas during the day and night. Males fight over females during the breeding season. Female mammals will mate with the most dominant predator.

Females may ovulate up to three times in a 21-day period, and copulation may take five days. A case was recorded when a couple mated for eight days.

Tasmanian devils are not monogamous. Thus females are willing to copulate with multiple males if not protected after mating. Males also breed with more females during the season.

average life expectancy

The biological structure of the Tasmanian devils controls their numbers. The mother has four nipples, and the cubs are born about thirty. All of them are very small and helpless. Therefore, those who manage to cling to the source of milk survive.

The female continues to feed her offspring up to 5-6 months. Only after this period can mammals embark on the path of self-sufficiency in obtaining food.

In nature, animals do not live longer than eight years, which makes the renewal of representatives of this population very fleeting.

The mammal belongs to the symbolic animals of Australia. The image with it is the emblem of many Tasmanian national parks, sports teams, coins and emblems.

Although appearance the devil and the sounds he makes can inspire danger, this family of predatory marsupials is a worthy representative of the animal kingdom.

TASMANIAN DEVIL or MASSAGED DEVIL(Sarcophilus harrisii) is a small predatory animal of Australia, which, with its stocky build and coloration, resembles a miniature bear, which has never been found on this continent. The body length of the predator is about 50 cm, it has a large head, a short tail and a black color, on which interspersed with white spots are often found. The life expectancy of the animals is short, on average 7-8 years. Already during the first meetings of man with the Tasmanian devil , he earned himself a bad reputation. During the development of the island of Tasmania, the first colonizers of which were exiled convicts from England, the marsupial devil actively, successfully and methodically began to destroy the chickens brought to the island.

Naturally, the colonists were not at all happy about this turn of events, since things were not in the best way with food.

But your name tasmanian marsupial devil received, probably, not only for eating domestic animals. The repulsive expression of the muzzle and the threatening growl, as well as its aggressiveness, terrified people. The roar of the beast is described as a whining grunt, followed by a hoarse cough or, if the beast is angry, a low, shrill growl. This behavior led to the fact that people began to ruthlessly exterminate the animal, so now it is found only in Tasmania, although many scientists believe that the animal used to live on the Australian mainland.

These amazing animals are very clean. They not only constantly lick themselves, but also like to take water procedures, folding their front paws with a ladle and washing themselves. Despite the fact that the Tasmanian devil loves to bask in the sun, he prefers to hunt at night. Devils are very gluttonous, so they eat a lot and everything in a row. Thanks to the ability to climb trees, cubs are especially good at this, their constant diet includes parrots, young wallabies, kangaroo rats and other smaller mammals.

The animal does not disdain frogs and crayfish, which it seeks out on the banks of reservoirs. And although the Tasmanian devil is small in size, it has remarkable strength, thanks to which it is not afraid to attack larger animals than itself, for example, sheep.

At the beginning of spring, the mating season begins for the animals, which is a breathtaking sight. Partners show aggression towards each other even when mating, and already three days after that, the female will drive the male away. Two months later, cubs are born, the number of which reaches 20 - 30 individuals. But those of them survive only those who manage to get to the mother's bag and hide in it. Usually these are two or three, maximum four cubs, the mother eats the rest without a twinge of conscience. Babies grow very quickly, and within six months after birth, they begin to lead an independent life.

The Tasmanian marsupial devil (lat. Sarcophilus laniarius) is a mammal from the order of Carnivorous marsupials (Dasyuromorphia) that lives on the island of Tasmania. Previously, representatives of this species also lived in Australia, but were destroyed by dingo dogs and evil farmers.

Suspicious agrarians were sure that marsupial devils attack sheep, although in fact they feed on carrion and are rarely hunted for livestock.

The animal got its name because of the terrible ominous growl, bloodthirstiness and indomitable aggression even in relation to much stronger creatures.

In the middle of the last century, it was on the verge of extinction. Since 1945, the view has been taken under state protection.

Behavior

Most readily, the Tasmanian devil settles in forests with sparse undergrowth, but is often found on mountain slopes, meadows and pastures. He is a typical lone hunter. In the selected area, the predator builds a shelter in a secluded cave, pit or hole dug under the roots of trees.

The Tasmanian devil lines its dwelling with dry grass. During the daylight hours, he sleeps, and with the advent of twilight he goes hunting. Own grounds marsupial mammal walks around at a leisurely jog in search of food. Insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds and small kangaroos become its prey.

The jaws of a predator are armed with sharp and strong teeth that easily tear the body of the victim, grind cartilage and crush bones.

The favorite delicacy of the Tasmanian devils is carrion. Near her, a whole team of tailed like-minded people often gathers, attracted by the smell of rotten meat. Everyone is trying to tear off the most appetizing pieces quickly and more, not forgetting to push and drive away their less agile neighbor from the delicacy.

These animals also love dead fish. Noticing her in the water, they swim to her in the blink of an eye and pull her ashore. Their disposition is, to put it mildly, grumpy. Beating or biting a relative is a common thing for them. Males fight each other especially fiercely. The fight begins with loud, intimidating screams. Then the opponents stand on their hind legs and try to bite each other hard on the face.

Fights are dangerous because they often cause infectious diseases. Because of them, many animals suffer from cancer of the lymph nodes. Patients develop nodular thickenings all over their bodies, due to which they cannot hunt, weaken and die of starvation in 3-4 months.

reproduction

The mating season for Tasmanian marsupial devils is not much different from ordinary life. First, the male beats the competitors half to death, then fights with the females. If the female wins, the unlucky boyfriend is kicked out of the site.

In the event of the victory of the male or the very rare favor of the female, the lucky man, without undue ceremony, grabs the lady of the heart with his teeth by the scruff of the neck and pulls into the hole. After a while, she shows miracles of dexterity and escapes the dungeons in search of a new partner.

Pregnancy lasts 21 days. About 30 underdeveloped embryos are born. They are completely naked, without paws and eyes. The mother has only 4 nipples in her pouch, so only those who manage to reach and suck on them first survive.

At the age of 3 months, the cubs are overgrown with wool. They grow hair, teeth erupt, eyes, paws and claws appear. The grown-up little devils leave the mother's pouch and begin to leave the hole.

When the mother goes hunting, they are left all alone. A loving mother brings them dead animals. With a squeal, the cubs tear them to pieces and eat them with great appetite. At 7 months, adolescents themselves begin to hunt on the mother's site. They catch lizards and other small animals. During this period, they themselves often become victims of tiger cats, foxes and Australian eagles.

After two months, the strengthened devils leave the parental nest and go to occupy their own lands. Two-year-old males already feel strong enough to enter into a bloody struggle for procreation.

Description

The body length is 50-80 cm, and the height at the withers is 30-35 cm. The weight of adults can range from 4 to 12 kg.

The strong squat body is covered with thick fur. The coat is black or dark brown. There are white stripes on the coccyx and chest. The tail is covered with rather sparse hair and reaches a length of 23-30 cm. Fat reserves are deposited in the tail for a rainy day, so in healthy animals it is thick, and in sick animals it becomes very thin.

The head is massive and wide, and the muzzle, on the contrary, is short and almost hairless. The black nose is a very sensitive organ of smell. Long and thick vibrissae grow on the sides of the muzzle. The ears are large, covered with sparse hair. The legs are short and very strong. The fingers are armed with sharp claws. Life expectancy is about 10 years.

Despite their innate ferocity, Tasmanian marsupial devils are easily tamed and attached to their master, whom they try to protect like dogs.