Australia
Tasmanian Devil
G'day from Tasmania! The Tasmanian devil is a small, stocky marsupial with a big personality — the largest meat-eating marsupial left in the world today.
Why is it special?
It's only found wild on the island of Tasmania, off the southern coast of Australia.
For its size, it has one of the strongest bites of any animal alive, which helps it crunch through bones.
How does it live?
Tasmanian devils are nocturnal, meaning they rest during the day in burrows or hollow logs and come out to explore at night.
They mostly clean up the forest by eating animals that have already died, which is an important job in nature.
Amazing facts
A Tasmanian devil is about the size of a small dog, even though it's famous for being fierce.
When it gets excited or upset, the insides of its ears can turn bright red.
Quick facts
- A Tasmanian devil is about the size of a small dog, even though it's famous for being fierce.
- When it gets excited or upset, the insides of its ears can turn bright red.
- Its loud screeches and growls at night gave it the spooky name "devil" from early settlers.
- Baby devils, called joeys, start out tiny enough to fit in a teaspoon and grow up in their mom's pouch.