the biggest, still living Raubbeutler only occurs on Tasmania today. it almost is as big as a badger and has the shape of a small-bear approximately.
Physique The penetrated one, clumsy, 52-80 cm long bodies, the thick head and the blunt muzzle let the Tasmanian devil appear immensely powerfully. A 20-30 cm long tail thickened at the root stands stiffly to the back. it is busy with shaggy hair, that frequently is repelled, however. The black fur-color becomes through a white collar-marking of the breast and interrupted white stains on the shoulders and the tail-root. The small, dark eyes often are brightly bordered. The ears are only thinly hairy and work parchment-nicely shines through. With excited animals, they color themselves powerfully red. Muzzle and paws are flesh-colored. 5 fingers with strong claws give the look of hands to the front-paws. The rear-feet carry only 4 bekrallte toes, that big-toe is missing. Particularly the corner and cheek-teeth are strongly developed in the powerful carnivore-denture. The skull is massive. Far unloading yoke-bows and a bone-comb on the vertex offer wide base-surfaces to the mighty Kaumuskulatur. The teeth turn into an effective weapon through it for attack and defense. The bag forms a horseshoe-shaped skin-embankment and is opened to the back.
Way of life its way of life as loot-clutches, that don't flinch also from bigger loot-animals, probably yielded it the black color and the small eyes in its name the "devil." Truly irritated Tasmanian devils or mothers look terrifying with boys if they oppose the alleged or real aggressor fauchend and zähnefletschend. Driven into the narrowness, they bite wildly about itself. Despite its clumsy shape, they are good, persevering runners. From its excellent sense of smell led, they follow its loot in one stiffly working, but very much promoting gallop. With its nightly way of life, nose and ear are its most important Sinnesorgane. The eyes of the Tasmanian devils against it are only weakly developed.
Food In freedom, Tasmanian devils hunt above all wallabies and rat-kangaroos. they catch frogs, fish or birds occasionally and plunder the nests of ground-breeders. Also insects, lizards and even poison-snakes like the feared tiger-snake (Notechis scutatus) fall victim to them.
Spread, habitat Skeleton-findings in ice age-like cave-settlements show that Tasmanian devils occurred also on the Australian mainland. Today, they only live on Tasmania in the dense undergrowth of the forests. they oversleep the day in caves, tree-holes or under roots. Only in quiet, undisturbed areas, one sees it during the day if they sunbathe. they like to be at the water and are skillful swimmers and divers. So, they frequently succeed with escaping from its enemies.
Reproduction The Tasmanian devils are combined in April and Mays. Males and females build a nest in a hiding place and pad it with foliage and grass. There, the boys come to the world end of May or beginning June. In the birth, they are approximately 12 mm long. More than 4 kids cannot be raised, because the females have only 4 teats. In the difference of too many other Raubbeutlern, the bag is held completely complete. After 7 weeks, the boys measure already 7 cm, and in the age of 15 weeks, they break away from the maternal teats. Now, they have already fur, and the eyes are open. they are suckled for months at least 5 and are not before the 2. Year of life sexually mature. they reach an old of approximately 7-8 years.
Endangering Tasmanian devils are in its continuance at the moment endangered not.
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