Fun Tasmanian Devil Facts For Kids

A mouthful of sharp teeth, a bone-crunching bite and a screech that cuts through the bush at night. It’s easy to see how The Tasmanian Devil earned its fearsome name.

But the real animal is a little different from the legend. Tasmanian Devils are generally shy, mostly nocturnal marsupials, and many of their loudest displays are actually about avoiding a fight, not starting one. They’re also the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, with some genuinely surprising adaptations.

As Tasmanian Devil facts for kids go, it’s hard to beat a story that starts with dozens of siblings the size of a grain of rice and ends with an animal that can crunch through bone.

Habitat

Wild Tasmanian Devils are found only in Tasmania, where they live across a wide range of landscapes, including coastal scrubland, eucalyptus forest and farmland edges.

During the day, Devils shelter in dense bush, hollow logs or burrows. Once night falls, they head out to forage, sometimes travelling long distances in search of food.

Tasmanian Devils once lived on mainland Australia too, but fossil evidence shows they disappeared from the mainland around 3,000 years ago. Tasmania has been their only wild home ever since.

Their stocky bodies are covered in coarse black or dark brown fur, often with white markings across the chest or rump. Devils also store fat in their tails, so a nice thick tail is usually a sign of a healthy Devil.

Diet and Feeding

Tasmanian Devils are carnivores, and Currumbin’s own Keepers describe them as more likely to scavenge dead animals than hunt their own prey, although they’ll happily do both.

Carrion, which means animals that are already dead, makes up a large part of their diet, and Devils will also hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects when the chance comes up. One of the more remarkable Tasmanian Devil interesting facts is that they can eat more than 10% of their body weight in a single meal, bones, fur and all.

That appetite isn’t just impressive, it’s useful. By clearing carcasses from the landscape, Tasmanian Devils help keep the Tasmanian bush tidy.

Bite Strength

For an animal about the size of a small dog, the Tasmanian Devil has an extraordinary bite. Its broad head and powerful jaw muscles give it one of the most powerful bites relative to body size among mammals, strong enough to crunch straight through bone.

That means very little of a meal goes to waste, and it’s a big part of what makes the Tasmanian Devil such an efficient member of the bush clean-up crew.

An open, tooth-baring mouth might look like trouble, but it usually isn’t. That famous wide “yawn” is actually more often a sign of fear and uncertainty than aggression, a Devil showing that it’s feeling unsure rather than looking for a fight.

Reproduction

Tasmanian Devil joeys make one of the most remarkable entrances in the animal kingdom. After a pregnancy of around 21 days, a mother can give birth to 20 or more joeys, each about the size of a single grain of rice.

The newborns must make their own way to the pouch. With only four teats available, no more than four joeys can continue developing there.

The joeys that do attach stay in the pouch for around four months, then move into a den while their mother continues to care for them. It’s a tiny beginning for an animal with a very big personality.

Vocalisations

Tasmanian Devils have plenty to say. Tasmania’s own wildlife scientists have identified at least 11 distinct sounds, including growls, screeches, snorts, and even a jaw-snapping “clap.”

Things get especially noisy when several Devils gather around the same carcass. Much of that racket is bluff. Rather than fighting over every meal, the sounds and displays can help settle who gets access to the food without things becoming physical.

It’s also where the name comes from. Early European settlers heard unsettling screeches, growls and coughs coming from the Tasmanian bush at night, and the “Devil” name stuck.

Ecological Role

Tasmanian Devils are an important part of Tasmania’s ecosystem. As scavengers, they help clear carcasses from the landscape. As predators, they can also remove sick or weak animals from the population.

There’s another benefit too. Tasmanian Devils can help limit opportunities for introduced predators such as foxes, feral cats and ferrets, animals that can do serious damage to Australia’s native wildlife.

For all its growls, screeches and sharp teeth, the Tasmanian Devil has a pretty important job to do!

Conservation Status

Tasmanian Devils are listed as Endangered. Since Devil Facial Tumour Disease, or DFTD, was first detected in the mid-1990s, the disease has caused major declines in the Tasmanian Devil population across Tasmania.

DFTD is a rare transmissible cancer that spreads between Devils, including through biting. It causes tumours to develop around the face and mouth, which can eventually make it difficult for an affected animal to eat.

Protecting endangered Tasmanian Devils involves research, disease monitoring and conservation breeding. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has been part of a Tasmanian Devil breeding program for more than 15 years and has successfully bred nine Tasmanian Devils as part of that work.

You can meet The Tasmanian Devil at the Sanctuary and learn more about the conservation work helping this remarkable species survive.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Tasmanian Devil

Why is it called a Tasmanian Devil?

Early European settlers gave the animal its dramatic name after hearing its loud screeches, growls and other unsettling noises at night. Its dark fur and impressive display of sharp teeth probably helped the reputation along.

Are Tasmanian Devils dangerous?

They can become fierce when competing for food or defending themselves, but much of their growling, screeching and teeth-baring is bluff. Tasmanian Devils are generally shy around people, although they are still wild animals and should always be given space.

Are Tasmanian Devils nocturnal?

Yes. Tasmanian Devils are primarily nocturnal, meaning they’re most active from dusk through the night.

What do Tasmanian Devils eat?

They’re carnivores that both hunt and scavenge, although scavenging makes up an important part of their feeding behaviour. Their diet can include carrion, small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

Why do Tasmanian Devils make so much noise?

Their screeches, growls and other vocalisations help Devils communicate, particularly when several animals gather around the same food. Their noisy displays can help settle disagreements without every encounter turning into a fight.

Can you see Tasmanian Devils at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary?

Yes. You can see Tasmanian Devils at the Sanctuary, where Currumbin has been involved in conservation breeding for the species for more than 15 years.

There’s plenty more Australian wildlife waiting to be discovered too. See animals and start planning your next visit to the Gold Coast’s #1 Wildlife Attraction.