Tasmanian devil

LOUD SCREAM AND POWERFUL BITE

It is not difficult to imagine how the Tasmanian devil got its name. With its loud scream, black fur, sharp teeth, red ears and “aggressive” behavior, it can easily be compared to something devilish. And you may also get that impression when you see it moving around its enclosure in the zoo.

The Tasmanian devil is the largest living carnivorous marsupial. The species is primarily nocturnal, but can also be seen early in the morning, when the light begins to break through, and in the early evening hours before darkness falls. Most of the day is spent sleeping in hiding in the terrain – for example in caves or under trees and bushes.

Devils generally live alone. They do not have clearly defined territories, but move within a more or less fixed area with knowledge of neighboring devils. They recognize each other by scent and mark their movements with scent trails and urine in the areas where they forage.

The food consists mainly of carrion, which the devil can track down using its well-developed sense of smell. Typically, it eats alone, but when there are larger carrion, several individuals can gather – sometimes up to 12 at a time! This is where the characteristic loud screams and growling sounds often occur. However, the violent sounds and bared teeth are usually part of the animals' communication and function to defuse conflict rather than trigger fights.

During the rutting season, however, fights are difficult to avoid. When the females come into heat, they emit fragrant pheromones and at the same time develop a liquid-filled crest on their necks. The males fight for the females' attention, and after the fights, the female chooses the winner. The victorious male bites the female's neck crest and pulls her down with great force into her burrow. Here he mates with her several times a day and at the same time guards the den so that other males do not sneak in. When the estrus period is over, the female chases the male away again.

About 20 days after a successful mating, the female gives birth to small, very immature young. Often more young are born than there are suckling nipples in the pouch. The birth takes place on stiff legs with the body bent forward. At the same time, a special secretion is secreted, which runs from the vaginal opening up to the opening of the pouch and forms a slimy “path” that the young can crawl up. The young are fully developed after about 90 days, during which they constantly suckle in the pouch.