Tasmanian marsupial. Tasmanian marsupial devil (sarcophilus harrisii)

There are few animals in the world named after evil spirits. Apart from the Tasmanian devil, the only thing we can remember is fish " monkfish" It is clear that an ordinary representative of the fauna will not be called that. So for what sins did the beast receive such an unflattering nickname?

Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).

This story began 400 years ago, when Europeans discovered Australia and nearby islands. The range of the marsupial devil then covered all of Tasmania and probably some areas Western Australia. The first settlers of these lands were British criminals exiled to distant lands, that is, an illiterate people and, like all Englishmen, deeply superstitious. Moving inland, the convicts behaved warily: you never know what danger awaits them in unknown lands, here every tree, every berry can be fraught with danger. What was the horror of the colonialists when one day dark night a heartbreaking cry of an unknown creature was heard in the bushes. They had never heard such sounds in their homeland! They never found out what kind of animal made that sound that night, but from that moment they were sure that someone terrible lived here. Subsequently, they heard such screams more than once, but what is interesting is that they were heard only at night, and during the day there was no trace of the unknown creature. Over and over again, at rest stops, travelers discussed these oddities, adding fictitious details, until, in the end, they agreed that only the devil himself could scream like that.

Later, having settled in the first settlements, they began raising chickens and sheep. Now, at night screams, the colonialists were no longer surprised, but only prayed to themselves to scare away the evil spirits. And then the hour came when the veil of secrecy was torn off. One of the newly minted farmers found a dead chicken in the barn in the morning, and a killer near the corpse. An unprecedented black beast screamed at the man and... oh horror, everyone recognized this scream. Yes, it’s him - the Tasmanian devil! Later, similar animals were repeatedly found near the corpses of sheep, poultry, and even near killed convicts. People were not at all embarrassed by the small size of the beast: the predator took away their food and destroyed the results hard work and only for this was he worthy of the title of killer of livestock and... people. After all, it was much easier to blame the death of a fellow tribesman on a dumb beast than to call the police. Thus, the death penalty for the “criminal” was guaranteed. And when it turned out that the meat of the “executed” was not inferior in taste to beef, Tasmanian devils began to be destroyed everywhere and were so successful that 19th century these animals survived only in remote areas of Tasmania. So, we told about the prejudices that played a fatal role in the fate of this beast, and now it’s time to find out the truth...

The Tasmanian devil belongs to the order Marsupials and at the moment is the most large predator. Even with their fellow members of the order, these unusual mammals have little in common; its only relatives are the spotted marsupial martens and the now exterminated thylacines (marsupial wolves). As already mentioned, the size of marsupial devils is small, they do not exceed 50 cm in length and weigh 6-8 kg. Their appearance intricately intertwines the features of different animals: at first glance, the Tasmanian devil resembles a squat dog, although its paws are flat like a bear’s, and its elongated muzzle with long mustaches makes it look like a giant rat. This combination external features testifies to the antiquity and primitiveness of these animals.

Tasmanian devils are black in color; 75% of individuals have two white crescent markings: one on the chest, the other on the lower back.

They do not have protected individual areas, but one individual, as a rule, moves around certain territory, resting in 3-4 permanent dens. Tasmanian devils hide in dense bushes, holes they dig themselves, or small caves. On the outskirts of villages, these animals sometimes steal blankets and clothes and line their shelters with these things. Animals lead a solitary lifestyle because they have a grumpy and quarrelsome character. The only thing that can bring Tasmanian devils together is large prey. For the sake of food, they are ready to tolerate their neighbors, but only after they have had a good time yelling at each other and finding out who is more important. The muzzles of older individuals are covered with scars, reminiscent of such skirmishes. Marsupial devils go hunting only at night and at dusk, but in captivity they are active during the day.

Baby marsupial devils take a sunbath.

These animals are voracious Weight Limit the prey they can absorb at a time is 40% of their own mass. Powerful jaws, as strong as those of a hyena, allow them to kill prey larger than the predator itself, such as wombats and sheep. In addition, Tasmanian devils catch small kangaroos, kangaroo rats, possums, parrots, insects; adult individuals can encroach on the life of young animals. At the same time, whenever possible, they prefer a bloodless and lazy way to get enough, namely, they pick up carrion, dead fish, toads and frogs. Often, animals caught feasting on the corpses of fallen ungulates are unfairly blamed for the death of the victims. Interestingly, marsupial devils prefer well-rotted meat and eat the carcass without leaving any residue, including the skin, entrails and small bones. Apparently, the animals are not afraid to experiment with unfamiliar products; pieces of leather boots, harnesses, denim, echidna needles, and pencils were found in their stomachs and droppings.

When running, Tasmanian devils can accelerate up to 12 km/h.

In search of prey, these animals slowly walk around the territory, sometimes climb the lower branches of trees, and confidently cross rivers by swimming, including cold mountain streams. During the night they can cover from 8 to 30 km. Their main senses are touch, a very keen sense of smell and well-developed night vision. If it is not possible to escape, the Tasmanian devil resorts to a psychological attack - that very heartbreaking cry. It must be admitted that their voice is indeed very loud for animals of such small size. It sounds unpleasant, in some places it resembles a loud roar, in others a hoarse or piercing screech. Tasmanian devils know the power of their weapons and do not forget to remind their enemies and fellow tribesmen of it with a wide, threatening yawn. Behind these hysterical screams lies another secret of these animals - in fact, they are very cowardly. When frightened, these mammals emit bad smell.

Tasmanian devil in a threatening pose.

The breeding season for Tasmanian devils begins in the Australian autumn, that is, in March-April. The males start fights, after which the female mates with the strongest of them. However, she can change partners, and a male can also have several chosen ones. Pregnancy, like that of all marsupials, is short, lasting 21 days.

It is also surprising that in such tiny, essentially underdeveloped newborns, gender can already be distinguished.

Tasmanian devils are one of the most prolific mammals, they can have 20-30 cubs in one litter! True, only the first four babies who manage to attach to the nipples have a chance of life. The flow of mucus released during birth helps the cubs get into the pouch, which opens backwards. After 2 months they begin to squeak, and after 3 months they are completely covered with fur. Gradually, the babies begin to crawl out of their mother’s pouch; as a rule, the female leaves them in the den when she goes hunting. Young individuals become independent by January. They reach sexual maturity by 2 years, but no more than half of the animals survive to this date. In general, Tasmanian devils do not live long; in nature, the age of the oldest individuals did not exceed 5 years, and in captivity - 7.

In nature, the natural enemies of Tasmanian devils were eagles and marsupial wolves (the latter killed cubs in their dens). With the settlement of Australian aborigines, dingo dogs came to the continent, which finally destroyed marsupial devils in Australia, and European colonialists helped complete this process. Now the animals are protected and no one hunts them, but new troubles are preventing the complete restoration of their numbers. Firstly, foxes were brought to the island of Tasmania, which began to do the same thing here as dingoes do in Australia. Secondly, the animals turned out to be very susceptible to a viral form of cancer, which is called “devil face tumor disease” (DFTD). In sick animals, tissue begins to grow on the eyelids, cheeks, and throat so that they eventually lose the ability to eat and breathe normally. So far, the only way to combat this virus is to remove infected individuals from wild populations.

Tasmanian devil cubs in mother's pouch.

Captured Tasmanian devils are difficult to tame; their low level of intelligence and natural aggressiveness make contact with people difficult; the animals often bite, rush around in the cage, and even chew through bars. However, offspring born in captivity react calmly to their caregivers.

The Tasmanian devil got its name because it is believed to be very aggressive. In addition, it makes a characteristic frightening sound. In fact, it is quite shy, feeds mainly on carrion and rarely hunts live prey. Previously, even before the dingo dog spread to Australia, the animal we are considering lived on the mainland. Today, the Tasmanian devil is an animal that lives only in Tasmania, where it has no natural enemies, but is still an endangered species. The animal hunts at night and spends its days in the thickets. Lives on trees in hard leaves, also appears on rocky areas. Sleeps in different places: from a hollow in a tree to a cave in a rock.

The Tasmanian devil is an aggressive marsupial

Most of us associate this animal primarily with a cartoon character. In fact, this animal is as uncontrollable as its fairy-tale counterpart. But facts suggest that even one individual can kill up to 60 poultry in just one night.

Tasmanian devils are unique animals. They are small marsupials with features similar to a rat, sharp teeth and thick black or brown fur. The animal is short, but do not be deceived: this creature is very fighting and is quite frightening.

Description of the Tasmanian devil

The real Tasmanian devil is, in fact, completely different from famous character from the cartoon. It is not the same size and does not create a storm close to the surrounding area like a swirling tornado. The Tasmanian devil ranges from 51 to 79 centimeters in length and weighs only 4 to 12 kg. These animals exhibit sexual dimorphism: males are larger than females. Their life expectancy is on average 6 years.

It is the largest carnivorous marsupial currently in existence. The animal's body is strong, strong and disproportionate: a large head, the tail is almost half the length of the animal's body. This is where most of the fat accumulates, which is why healthy individuals have very thick and long tails. The animal has five toes on its front paws: four simple and one directed to the side. This feature gives them the ability to hold food in their paws. The hind limbs have four toes with very long and sharp claws.

The animal - the Tasmanian devil - has a very strong jaws, reminiscent of the jaw structure of a hyena. They have prominent canines, four pairs of upper incisors and three lower ones. The beast can open its jaw to a width of 80 degrees, this allows it to generate very great strength bite. Thanks to this, he is able to bite through a whole carcass and thick bones.

Habitat

The Tasmanian devil lives in Australia, which covers an area of ​​about 35,042 square miles (90,758 square kilometers). Although these animals can live anywhere on the island, they prefer coastal scrub and dense, dry forests. Often drivers can meet them on the roads where devils feed on carrion. Because of this, they often die under the wheels of cars. Very common in Tasmania road signs, warning drivers about the possibility of the Tasmanian devil. But no matter what area of ​​the island these animals inhabit, they sleep under stones or in caves, hollows or holes.

Habits

Between the animal and the cartoon character of the same name there is one common feature: bad temperament. When the devil feels threatened, he goes into a rage, in which he growls violently, lunges, and bares his teeth. It also emits otherworldly, eerie screams that can seem very frightening. The last feature can be explained by the fact that the Tasmanian devil is a solitary animal.

This unusual beast leads night look life: sleeps during the day and is awake at night. This feature may be explained by their desire to avoid predators that are dangerous to them - eagles and people. At night, when hunting, it can cover a distance of more than 15 km thanks to its long hind limbs. The Tasmanian devil also has long whiskers, allowing it to navigate the terrain well and search for prey, especially at night.

The habit of hunting at night is explained by their ability to see everything in black and white. Therefore, they react well to movement, but have problems with clearly seeing stationary objects. Their most developed sense is hearing. They also have a well-developed sense of smell - they can smell odors at a distance of more than 1 km.

Young devils can climb well and anchor themselves in trees, but with age this ability is lost. Most likely, this is the result of adaptation to the environmental conditions of Tasmanian devils, whose lifestyle is also noted for cases of cannibalism. Adults, during times of severe hunger, can eat young ones, which, in turn, defend themselves by climbing trees.

Nutritional Features

As already mentioned, Tasmanian devils are carnivorous animals. Most of the time they eat birds, snakes, fish and insects. Sometimes even a small kangaroo can become their victim. Often, instead of hunting live animals, they feast on dead carcasses, called carrion. Sometimes several animals can gather near one carcass, and then fights between them are inevitable. While eating, they absorb everything without loss: they eat bones, wool, internal organs and the muscles of their prey.

The Tasmanian devil's favorite food, due to its high fat content, is the wombat. But the animal may well feast on any other mammals, fruits, frogs, tadpoles and reptiles. Their diet depends primarily on the availability of dinner. At the same time, they have a very good appetite: per day they can take food equal to half their weight.

Reproduction and offspring

Tasmanian devils usually mate once a year, in March. Females choose their partners very carefully, and the latter can start real fights for her attention. The female has a gestation period of about three weeks and babies are born in April. The litter can be up to 50 cubs. Young devils are pink and hairless, the size of a grain of rice, and weigh approximately 24 grams.

Reproduction of Tasmanian devils is closely related to strong competition. At birth, the young are in their mother's pouch, where they compete for one of her four teats. Only these four will have a chance to survive; others die due to malnutrition. The cubs remain in the mother's pouch for four months. Once they come out, the mother carries them on her back. After eight or nine months, the cubs are fully grown. Tasmanian devils live from five to eight years.

Conservation status

According to the Red List of Threatened Species, the Tasmanian devil is endangered, its numbers are declining every year. In 2007, the IUCN estimated that the distribution of the Tasmanian devil is declining. At that time, about 25,000 adults were counted.

The animal's population has declined by at least 60% since 2001 due to a cancer called facial tumor disease (DFTD). DFTD causes swelling on the surface of the animal's face, making it difficult for it to feed normally. Ultimately the animal dies of starvation. This is an infectious disease that has brought the species to the brink of extinction. Today, the Devil Conservation Program is a movement created at the initiative of Australia and the Tasmanian government to save animals from a terrible disease.

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

Suspicious farmers were sure that marsupial devils were attacking sheep, although in fact they feed on carrion and rarely hunt livestock.

The animal got its name because of its eerie ominous growl, bloodthirstiness and indomitable aggression even towards much stronger creatures.

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

Behavior

The Tasmanian devil most readily 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, hole or hole dug under the roots of trees.

The Tasmanian devil lines its home with dry grass. During daylight hours he sleeps, and when dusk comes he goes hunting. Own lands marsupial mammal walks around at a leisurely jog in search of food. Its prey includes insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds and small kangaroos.

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

The most favorite delicacy of Tasmanian devils is carrion. A whole group of tailed like-minded people often gathers near her, attracted by the smell of rotten meat. Everyone tries to tear off the most appetizing pieces as quickly and as big as possible, not forgetting to push away and drive away their less efficient neighbor from the delicacy.

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

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

Reproduction

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

In case of victory of the male or the very rare favor of the female, the lucky one, without unnecessary ceremony, grabs the lady of his heart with his teeth by the collar and pulls him into the hole. After some time, she shows miracles of dexterity and escapes the dungeon in search of a new partner.

Pregnancy lasts 21 days. About 30 underdeveloped embryos are born. They are completely naked, without legs 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 grow fur. They grow hair, teeth erupt, eyes, paws and claws appear. The grown up cubs leave their mother's pouch and begin to emerge from the hole.

When the mother goes hunting, they are left completely alone. A loving mother brings them dead animals. The cubs squeal and tear them into pieces and eat them with great appetite. At 7 months, adolescents begin to hunt on their own in the maternal area. 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 strong little devils leave their parent’s 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 adult individuals 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 tailbone 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, but 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 and 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 become attached to their owner, whom they try to protect like dogs.

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 deposited), large claws and the absence of the first toe on the hind limbs. , 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. He loves to walk along the shore of a reservoir, eating nearby frogs, crayfish and other small aquatic inhabitants. 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.

As scavengers, the Tasmanian Devil plays a 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 just don’t scare him, otherwise he will emit an unpleasant odor.

Tasmania is one of the most mysterious Australian states, and its inhabitants have not yet revealed all their secrets to scientists and naturalists. For example, a small marsupial, nicknamed the “Tasmanian devil,” despite its modest size, is considered one of the wildest and most dangerous creatures on the planet. And yet, biologists are putting a lot of effort into protecting this species, which is on the verge of extinction. They protect not only from humans and other animals, but also from an unusual infectious form of cancer that has been raging on the island for more than a century.

This is the description of Tasmanian devils left by the father of modern zoology, Alfred Edmund Brehm, in his book “The Life of Animals”: ​​“untidy and ferocious, this animal, covered with numerous warts, lives like a savage, always in a bad mood, which people do not treat with sympathy, as is usually the case with marsupials.”

Tasmanian demon of the night

The Tasmanian devil is endemic (indigenous to the state). This small animal is also known as " marsupial devil“, was once found in Australia, but dingo dogs, brought by the first settlers at the dawn of our era, constituted significant competition for it and led to gradual extinction.

Meeting a Tasmanian devil, who diligently avoids a person, is not so easy, however, meeting him will never be forgotten. Unusual view and the animal’s voice, its different lifestyle from most other marsupials and mysterious stories The stories that local residents tell about it invariably make an impression.

Not long ago, scientists found that marsupial devils once inhabited South America. This was more than 10 million years ago. They also lived on the former part of the supercontinent Gondwana, but after the separation of Australia from other continents, the development of animals ceased, while the dry climate of the “country in reverse” created ideal conditions for their life.

Tasmanian marsupials (once an extensive genus) today have only one representative. In 1936, the death of the last thylacine was recorded. The Tasmanian devil has become the only predator living on the island, and even that one is on the verge of extinction.

There is nothing remarkable in the appearance of the Tasmanian devil. This is a small, dog-sized and weighing about 12 kg, predator, which nature has endowed with incredibly sharp fangs. The color of the animal is almost completely black, which partly influenced its unusual name. Only closer to the nose area does the color of the coat turn gray, and a bright white stripe runs along the sternum.

At first glance, the Tasmanian devil may seem awkward and disproportionately built. His legs are short, his head is large, and his whole figure looks squat and awkward. Particularly striking big ears pinkish tint (animals have very short fur, and in this zone it is practically absent).

There is a small mystery in the structure of devils - the first toe is missing on their hind legs. Scientists still have not been able to figure out why nature decided to change their limbs this way. The claws of animals are very large, and their teeth are incredibly sharp, although they do not change throughout life. Marsupial devils cope well with any prey. It has been proven that these small animals can bite the skull or spine of their prey if necessary.

Males and females are similar to each other, they can be distinguished by their size (males are larger) and folds on the skin, similar to a bag (they are present only in females, which, like other marsupials, continue to bear their young after giving birth).

Beast symbol

Representatives of marsupials in natural environment can be found exclusively in Australia. By decision of the country's government, Tasmanian devils became one of the symbols of the state. In particular, their image was placed on the emblem of the regional security service wildlife And national parks. In addition, the Tasmanian devil is featured in the logo of the Australian football team, the Tasmanian Devils, and the disbanded basketball team, the Gobart Devils, were also named after the predatory marsupial.

You can also find the image of the Tasmanian devil on Australian coins issued from 1989 to 1994, as well as on numerous advertising and souvenir information offered to guests not only of Tasmania, but also of Australia.

Tourists (not only foreign, but also Australian) are very keenly interested in the fate of Tasmanian devils, so sometimes the island authorities organize small safaris, during which you can observe the life of amazing animals.

The image of the Tasmanian devil is also used by publishers of books for children, in addition, in the wake of the popularity of the campaign to protect the species, Linus Torvalds for some time replaced the symbol of his system (the penguin Tux) with the cartoon image of the Tasmanian devil Taz.

Scientific and popular science films are regularly made about Tasmanian devils documentaries, one of which was the film “Horrors of Tasmania”, released in 2005.

A fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it

Some Europeans compare marsupial devils to bear cubs. Such analogies are caused, first of all, by the stocky physique and coloring, as well as the rather cute appearance that the animals have during rest. Local residents, who have only seen live bears in zoos, have a completely different attitude towards the animals.

Their reputation is, to put it mildly, bad - devils are considered treacherous, vengeful and bloodthirsty. And why be surprised? The first colonialists, who were exiled English convicts in Tasmania, could not stand the pest that stole them from chicken coops at night main source food - chickens They began to hunt Tasmanian devils, simultaneously inventing the most incredible legends and stories about them.

Many of these tales persist to this day. Thus, it is believed that at night animals receive mystical powers that help them in hunting. There are many dark stories of Tasmanian devils kidnapping domestic cats and even small children. Naturally, such stories are far from the truth.

Tasmanian devils, despite their small size, have remarkable energy, so they are quite capable of attacking animals that are larger than them, such as sheep, especially old and sick ones. Young individuals are excellent at climbing trees, which allows them to destroy nests and hunt parrots and other marsupials. Sometimes animals hunt frogs and crayfish, lying in wait for hours on the banks of reservoirs.

The main objects of devils' hunting are small animals, most often carrion left behind by other predators. IN warm days animals love to sleep in the sun and go hunting at night. Devils love to eat, so they eat a lot. On a day, an animal is able to eat food constituting about 15% of its body weight, and sometimes its amount can increase up to 40%. Moreover, it does not take much time for the Tasmanian devil to absorb such huge volumes. The largest meals last no more than half an hour.

Abundant and active nutrition is a natural regulatory mechanism, because in Tasmania there are frequent droughts, when it is extremely difficult to find food. The Tasmanian devil is able to survive both bad weather and hunger - in the tail area the animals have fatty deposits that provide energy when necessary.

By the way, during periods of drought, adult and strong Tasmanian devils can hunt their weak young relatives. According to scientists, the ability of small marsupial devils to climb steep rocks, which representatives of the species lose as adults, is one of the methods of preserving the population.

The meals of Tasmanian devils are very bloody and look truly creepy. Animals begin to eat their victims' organs digestive system, emitting loud sounds that carry for several kilometers and writhing in convulsive attacks of aggression.

The amazing life of an unusual marsupial

Tasmanian devils have a lot of talent. For example, they can climb trees and swim. These little animals do not need company - they are loners and meet with representatives of the other sex only during mating season, which starts in April. Animals live only 7-8 years, so all their physiological processes proceed unusually quickly.

Animals have a very good sense of smell and hearing. Since most of their activity occurs at night, marsupial devils easily navigate in space, which makes them difficult to study. How do animals not get lost in the dark (the nights in Tasmania are very dark)? Nature has provided them with sensitive hairs on the head and face, called vibrissae. They allow them not only to navigate well in space, but also to easily track down prey.

It is believed that Australian animals are generally unique and are not capable of living in ecosystems other than those to which they are accustomed. However, Tasmanian devils are an exception to this rule. They can live in almost any ecosystem, with the exception of areas with high population density and lack of forest.

They are most often found near livestock pastures, rain forests and coastal savannas. The animals lived well in zoos around the world, but along with the decline in their population and the struggle of Australian zoologists for the uniqueness of the local ecosystem, it was decided to preserve Tasmanian devils in their natural habitat. That is why it will no longer be possible to see the Tasmanian devil in zoos. The last individual to live outside Tasmania died in 2004 at Fort Verne Zoo.

Animals do not mark territory, but the hunting zones of each individual are clearly demarcated. Devils are ready to aggressively rush not only at the enemy, but also at a careless relative who accidentally entered their territory.

The wide open mouth, which has become a kind of calling card of the animal, is used only for intimidation. The real weapon of the Tasmanian devil is the unpleasant odor that its glands secrete when frightened. However, Tasmanian devils prefer not to engage in open fights, spending most of their time in shelters, for which they choose dense bushes, empty holes or trunks of fallen trees.

Being calm by nature, devils usually behave slowly and even clumsily. When danger arises, as well as when chasing prey, they are able to reach speeds of up to 13 kph. Animals swim well, but do it only when absolutely necessary.

Tasmanians have practically no natural enemies, only gigantic marsupial martens and some species birds of prey, as well as foxes certified in 2001 can compete with them.

Terrible name

Initially, the question arises: why did the animal get this? menacing name. Naturally, the reason for this is not only that Tasmanian devils have a characteristic color and often destroy chicken coops. By nature, “Tasmanians” are very aggressive, and they express their emotions with a menacing growl that sounds so threatening that it can unbalance even a very calm person.

First, the animal begins to grumble, as if whinily complaining about its life. Then a hoarse cough is heard, and a moment later - a piercing, terrifying growl. For a long time the first European inhabitants of Tasmania could not explain the nature of these sounds and attributed them to otherworldly hostile forces.

Gradually, having understood the situation, the colonialists did not calm down and began to consider Tasmanian devils as accomplices of evil forces. They began to actively destroy them, setting traps and scattering poisons. Pretty soon the entire animal population was on the verge of extinction.

Sometimes males engage in fights, which scientists call duels. In them, they try to prove their superiority by opening their mouths wide and making shrill sounds. The loudest and most active male wins in such fights that are fought for the hearts of the devils.

The animal was first described in the early 19th century by George Harris, who named the unusual marsupial Didelphis Ursina (which can be translated as possum bear). Already in 1908, Richard Owen came up with another Latin name Dasyurus Laniarius ( marsupial marten). Yours modern name, as well as the biological classification of marsupial devils received in 1841. The literal translation of the animal's name in Latin - Sarcophilus laniarius - is not at all as original as the Russian name, and just means “Harris meat lover”. The animal owes this name to the European who was the first to describe it.

Despite its formidable appearance and very unfriendly attitude towards people, the animal is very clean. Not only does he regularly lick himself clean (after all, he is a predator, and the smell, as you know, is a hindrance to a good hunt), but he also takes water treatments. Seeing how Tasmanian devils wash themselves, one might really think that they are in cahoots with otherworldly forces. Animals fold their paws into a ladle, as people usually do, scoop up water, and then thoroughly wash their faces.

How do devils reproduce?

Tasmanian devils begin breeding around their second year of life. Once a year they have a mating season, during which they themselves have to engage in bloody battles for the possession of females. Devils, unlike many predators, are loners. They do not create permanent pairs and, if the male does not protect the female, she may well find another partner.

Pregnancy lasts only three weeks. Usually a female gives birth to 3-4, much less often - 4 cubs. Babies spend the first four months in their mother's pouch, and for about six months they feed on mother's milk. At 8 months, young individuals become completely independent and leave their mother.

Research that recent years became especially active and showed that females more often survive their cubs than males.

Features of the population

More than 3 thousand years ago, Tasmania became a reliable refuge for marsupials that found refuge here after the exploration of Australia by the Aborigines. Most of the unique species became extinct just a few hundred years after the arrival of humans; only the smallest of them were able to survive, which more easily adapted to new conditions and were able to establish, if not friendly, then at least partnerships with humans.

Even 600 years ago, “Tasmanians” could be found in every corner of Australia, as evidenced by fossil remains found in Victoria. At the time Europeans arrived on the mainland, these marsupials had not been here for half a millennium. Wild dingoes and Aborigines, who are not above eating predators, have become a serious threat to Tasmanian devils.

Just 50 years ago, Tasmanian devils were often seen on local menus. Aborigines and risky people Those who have tried devil's meat say that it is tender and juicy, somewhat similar to veal. Since animals destroyed poultry, in the 19th century there were even rewards for killing them.

After valves and poisons gained popularity in the 20th century, the population began to decline critically, and if zoologists had not intervened, the species would have ceased to exist even then, like many other marsupials.

No less a problem for devils, as for other Australian marsupials, is the active movement of cars on the highways. Other predators also interfered with the normal development, including wild dogs dingoes and foxes, which recently appeared on the island (these animals were brought to Tasmania illegally and, since they have no natural enemies, quickly multiplied, threatening to destroy the ecosystem that had been formed here for millennia).

Scientists who studied Tasmania argued that a unique ecosystem had formed here that did not pose a threat to marsupials. It was precisely because dingoes did not make their way onto the island that thylacines (marsupial wolves) lived here for a long time. After the last marsupial wolf disappeared in 1936, scientists began to sound the alarm, and in 1941 they passed a law on the protection of marsupial devils.

This allowed the population to increase to almost 150 thousand individuals by 1990. However, another threat, more serious than people, has arisen. By the beginning of the 21st century, because of it, the population had decreased by 30%. Every year, the number of Tasmanian devils capable of reproducing and producing reproductive offspring is critically decreasing. Nowadays, humans have become the only hope for Tasmanian devils, because they are on the verge of extinction not because of other predators, but because of a mysterious, untreatable disease.

Help the devil

Since devils are less willing to hunt and prefer carrion, they not only have a well-developed sense of smell, but they should also have had remarkable health, but this is not the case. A species that plays an unusually important role in the Tasmanian ecosystem, serving as the island's orderlies, is susceptible to a unique disease that is transmitted from individual to individual.

For a long time, biologists were unable to establish what was happening to the predators. Several decades ago it was said sensational statement– Marsupial devils suffer from a unique form of cancer that is infectious in nature.

Despite the decision made at the beginning of World War II to protect the species, the population declines catastrophically every year. In the last 10 years alone, it has shrunk by more than half. The disease is scary not only because it affects the internal organs of predators - the muzzle of sick Tasmanian devils becomes swollen. They die not so much from disease as from hunger.

Critical declines in the number of Tasmanian devils were observed in 1909 and 1950. In each of these cases they were caused by epidemics. Then scientists could not explain what they were connected with, nor how their occurrence could be prevented. Information about the disease, called DFTD, was made public in 1995. To this day, neither the causes of its occurrence, nor the routes of transmission, nor the methods of treatment are completely clear. However, it is known that individuals living in the eastern part of the island, where there are almost no Tasmanian devils left, are especially susceptible to the disease.

In 2007, only 50 thousand Tasmanian devils lived on the island. Today these animals are so rare that their export from the island is prohibited. Scientists are trying to defeat the disease, but the only solution so far has been found in isolating patients on islands near Tasmania or in fenced areas. Many individuals were equipped with sensors that made it possible to establish interspecific contacts, thus protecting the animals from extinction.

Today, Tasmanian devils are protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which has classified the animals as endangered. Accordingly, substantial money is allocated for the protection of the species, and several research centers have been created in Tasmania, where biologists, doctors and ecologists are working on the problem of restoration and regulation of the population.

Animation legend

Hearing the name “Tasmanian devil,” many people remember not the marsupial inhabitant of distant Australia, but Taz, the hero of the Looney Tunes cartoon series produced by Warner Bros. This character first appeared on screens in the mid-twentieth century, then was forgotten for some time and again became a television hero in the early 90s, when it was decided to make his own animated show for him, in which the whole Tasmanian family could take part.

The animators carefully developed the image of Taz, basing it on the real habits and behavior of Tasmanian devils. That is why the fat and restless character immediately appealed to both adults and children. Taz, for example, had an enviable appetite and was ready to eat almost anything, which became the reason for his incredible adventures, which the cartoon was talking about.

The audience learned a lot of details about the funny hero, for example, about his unusual hobby- collecting traffic jams. Taz was voiced by Mel Blanc from the moment the cartoon was released in 1954 until 1989. The actor managed to reliably convey the sounds characteristic of Tasmanian devils, including growls and squeals, and also added color to the character, giving him unintelligible, chaotic speech.

Due to the intensification of the fight for the conservation of marsupial devils in recent years, animators are planning to release new animated stories about Taz, which should help draw attention to the problem from young audiences.

The Tasmanian devil is a unique marsupial that currently lives only on the island of Tasmania. Unable to withstand competition with people, foxes and wild dingoes, these animals left Australia more than 500 years ago. Today they inhabit cozy and quiet places, hunting and searching for carrion. The species is on the verge of extinction not only due to competition with other animals, including those introduced by humans, but also due to a mysterious cancer, transmitted infectiously and affecting the faces of animals, causing them to die not only from pain, but also from hunger. Scientists have not been able to find a solution to the problem that has reduced the population by almost half.