Tasmanian devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
Where is it found?
Forests and coastal heathland
Diet and foraging method
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Tasmanian Devils are very efficient scavengers, and use their powerful jaws to crush bones and chew up tough skin.
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Key adaptations
Tasmanian Devils long whiskers help them locate prey when foraging in the dark and also other Devils that are close during foraging.
Social organisation and mating system
Solitary
Promiscuous
Did you know that...?
Tasmanian Devils have a rear facing pouch to shelter and protect their developing young from dirt and debris while the mother digs for food.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Young tasmanian devil" by KeresH - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Young_tasmanian_devil.jpg#/media/File:Young_tasmanian_devil.jpg
"Sarcophilus harrisii feeding" by Peripitus - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_feeding.jpg#/media/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_feeding.jpg
"Tasmanian Devil resting" by Wayne McLean ( jgritz) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tasmanian_Devil_resting.jpg#/media/File:Tasmanian_Devil_resting.jpg
"Sarcophilus harrisii Gould" by John Gould - John Gould, F.R.S., Mammals of Australia, Vol. I Plate 52, London, 1863.http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/Sar_ursi.htm. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_Gould.jpg#/media/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_Gould.jpg
"Young tasmanian devil" by KeresH - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Young_tasmanian_devil.jpg#/media/File:Young_tasmanian_devil.jpg
"Sarcophilus harrisii feeding" by Peripitus - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_feeding.jpg#/media/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_feeding.jpg
"Tasmanian Devil resting" by Wayne McLean ( jgritz) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tasmanian_Devil_resting.jpg#/media/File:Tasmanian_Devil_resting.jpg
"Sarcophilus harrisii Gould" by John Gould - John Gould, F.R.S., Mammals of Australia, Vol. I Plate 52, London, 1863.http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/Sar_ursi.htm. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_Gould.jpg#/media/File:Sarcophilus_harrisii_Gould.jpg
