Australian Animal Series Part 4 - There's More to the Tasmanian Devil than Taz and BTW Where the Heck is Tasmania

Introduction

Following on from my recent posts introducing interesting Australian animals, the Cassowary Most Australian Animals Want to Kill You -But we still need to save them and their habitat the reward from this allowed me to donate AU$25 to Rainforest Rescue.

I have started a series about interesting and in many cases endangered Native Australian animals and raise awareness and some money for their research, conservation and rescue. I pledge that the AU$ equivalent of the STEEM given as reward on this post will be donated to a wildlife charity either Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors or if more than AU$25 then the balance to the University of Tasmania Foundation Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal

Part 4 in this series is The Tasmanian Devil

So Firstly... Where on Earth is Tasmania... Tasmania is the large Island to the South-East of the Australian Continent, it sits in the latitude know as the Roaring 40's and the strong prevailing winds come from the West across the seas.
Image source

Most people introduction to the Tasmanian Devil was the Looney Tunes cartoon character TAZ with his crazy eat and destroy everything antics, he was very popular with younger audiences.

By Source, Fair use, Link

However there is a real animal behind the character...

Discussion

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the largest living carnivorous marsupial. They have sharp powerful claws and a backward facing pouch. Male devils have a head to body length of 65cm (25" )and can weigh up to 12kg ( 20lb ), the Females are smaller, reaching only 57cm (22") in length and up to 10kg (16lb ). Each devil has distinctive white markings on their chest, which can be used like a fingerprint to identify individuals. Although known as the Tasmanian Devil they were once found across wide areas of the main continent of Australia until approximately 5,000 years ago.

Habitat

They are found in virtually every type of habitat occurring in Tasmania, including suburban fringes. As Tasmanian Devils are shy, nocturnal creatures they are rarely seen in the wild.

Diet

Tasmanian Devils often scavenge dead animals (carrion) found on roadsides. Sadly, many of them are hit by cars while feeding. Tasmanian Devils travel up to 16km in search of food. They can devour an entire prey item, bones and all! A male Tasmanian Devil is capable of consuming one quarter of its own body weight in one feeding session.

Breeding

Female Tasmanian Devils commonly raise two young at one time. Joeys live in the pouch for almost four months. Once they emerge, joey devils remain in a den for a further few months, before leaving to learn the skills required for survival.

Threats

One bright point is that Tasmania is currently free of a feral fox population unlike the mainland. Human impacts such as road trauma and killing of devils by farmers protecting their stock as well as habitat loss are major threats. In addition to this
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is a critical threat to the species survival.

Tasmanian devils with large facial tumours were photographed in North East Tasmania during 1996. We now know these characteristics are consistent with Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) which is a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils, characterised by cancers around the head and neck. DFTD appears to be a new disease that is restricted to Tasmanian devils. No affected animals were detected among the 2000-plus devils trapped by six biologists between 1964 and 1995.

DFTD is extremely unusual: it is one of only four known naturally occurring transmissible cancers. It is transmitted like a contagious disease between individuals through biting and other close contact. Unfortunately, most infected animals usually die within a few months of the cancer becoming visible. Tasmanian devils with facial tumours find it difficult to eat. Death results from starvation and the breakdown of body functions as a result of the cancer.

Several breeding groups that were quarantined and know to be free of the disease have been established on the Australian mainland including one at Australia Zoo

Conclusion

Although the Tasmanian Devil faces many challenges to its survival there are many people and groups fighting to help them.

My series introduction [Australia's Unique and Interesting Animals Are Not ALL Wanting To Kill You..BUT Some Are]( , had a post reward of approx. AU$10, Australian Animal Series Part 2 - What's the difference between a Koala and the mythical Drop Bear raised just under AU$10 , Australian Animal Series Number 3 - The NUMBAT...Such a Funny Name For a Cute little Marsupial added another AU$10 .. combined this allowed me to donate AU$25 to Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors and AU$10 to Project Numbat

I pledge that the AU$ equivalent of the STEEM given as reward on this post will be donated to a wildlife charity either Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors or if more than AU$25 then the balance to the University of Tasmania Foundation Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal

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Sources and links

http://www.australiazoo.com.au/our-animals/mammals/tasmanian-devils
http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Devil_(Looney_Tunes)
http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmania
https://www.utasalumni.org.au/devil-appeal