Tasmanian devil

The small marsupial with a terrifying scream

This animal is the size of a dog, but its scream is so scary that the first settlers called it a 'devil'! In fact it is shy and looks for food at night. Its jaws are extremely strong — it even chews up bones. Like a kangaroo it is a marsupial: the babies grow in the mother's pouch. It lives only on the island of Tasmania.

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial (8 kg) since the thylacine died out in 1936. It vanished from mainland Australia 3,000 years ago (when dingoes arrived) and survives only in Tasmania. Its bite force relative to body weight is the highest of any mammal — it eats carrion, bones and skin included, a 'forest cleaner'. It roams 16 km a night. Since 1996 a contagious facial tumour disease (DFTD, spread by biting) has killed 80% of the population; IUCN: Endangered. Disease-free 'insurance' populations are kept on islands and in mainland reserves.

Fun facts

• A devil's bite is stronger than a lion's relative to its weight.
• Its ears turn red with excitement when it eats.
• Babies are born the size of a grain of rice and grow in the pouch for 4 months.