The Tasmanian devil is the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, and a famously feisty character in the animal kingdom. Found only in Tasmania, this stocky black-furred clean-up crew is one of Australia’s most famous wild residents, known for a bone-crushing bite and spine-chilling screeches. These unique animals are also the subject of one of the great conservation stories of our time. Here are the most interesting Tasmanian devil facts, from that remarkable bite to the fight against a deadly disease — and you can meet more locals in our guide to native animals.
What Is a Tasmanian Devil?
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the largest carnivorous marsupial alive today — a stocky animal about the size of a small dog, with a coat of black fur, a white chest flash and a set of powerful jaws built for crushing. Pound for pound, it delivers one of the most powerful bites of any land mammal, strong enough to crack bones and bite through metal traps. Males weigh up to about 12 kilograms, and despite the short legs they move surprisingly quickly when it matters.
Why the Screaming?
That eerie night-time racket — growls, screeches, snorts and sneezes — is the devil’s full vocalisation range. Most of the noise erupts at communal dinners, where dozens of animals squabble over a carcass and each tries to sound bigger than it is. Early European settlers found the sound so unsettling they named the beast after the devil himself. Devils also yawn when confronted, baring sharp teeth in what looks like aggression but is usually a nervous bluff. A certain cartoon character later made the little marsupial world-famous.
What’s on the Menu?
Tasmanian devils are carnivores that clean up the bush. They feast on dead animals — roadkill and natural deaths alike — devouring a whole carcass, fur, bones and all, and their appetite for carrion helps keep disease in check. Adults also hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects, and a big devil can eat up to 40 per cent of its body weight in a single sitting. It is the ultimate scavenger: nothing edible is left behind.
Night Life
Tasmanian devils are nocturnal, doing most of their hunting and travelling after dark. By day they shelter in hollow logs, dense scrub or a simple burrow, and healthy animals store fat in their tails — a plump tail is the sign of a healthy devil. Adult Tasmanian devils roam several kilometres a night in search of food, and despite their stocky build they are surprisingly good tree climbers.
Joeys the Size of a Grain of Rice
Like all marsupials, females carry their young in a pouch. The breeding season peaks in late summer, and a female gives birth to around 20-40 joeys after a short pregnancy — but her pouch holds only four teats, so the first four to climb aboard survive and the rest do not. Each joey starts life no bigger than a single rice grain and stays safely tucked inside for about four months before riding around on mum’s back.
Devil Facial Tumour Disease
In the mid-1990s, a terrifying new threat appeared in north-east Tasmania: a rare contagious cancer, now known as DFTD, that spreads when devils bite each other’s faces during feeding and mating. The tumours grow until the animal can no longer feed, and death usually follows within months. The outbreak wiped out thousands of Tasmanian devils — by some estimates 80 per cent of the population — and DFTD still burns through pockets of the island today.
Scientists are working hard on the problem. A captive breeding program has successfully bred an insurance population of disease-free animals, reintroduction trials have returned devils to the Australian mainland, and a vaccine is now in field trials. The wild Tasmanian devil population, once thought doomed, is holding on in disease-free pockets — real hope for a species written off a decade ago.
An Endangered Icon
The species has been listed as endangered since 2008. Beyond the disease, devils are hit by cars at night, and competition with feral cats adds further pressure. The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program coordinates monitoring, releases and research across the island, and some wild devils are now showing the first signs of resistance to the disease.
Where to See Them
Devils once roamed mainland Australia but vanished there roughly 3,000 years ago, probably outcompeted by arriving dingoes — long after Aboriginal peoples had woven them into stories across the country. Today the species survives only in Tasmania, with night tours and sanctuaries across Tasmania’s east coast — including the Bonorong wildlife park near Hobart — offering close encounters. Many Aussie zoos hold devils as conservation ambassadors too.
Are Tasmanian Devils Dangerous?
Not to humans — there are no recorded fatal attacks on people. They are loud, dramatic and armed with a crushing bite, but the famous temper is aimed at other devils at dinner time, not at visitors keeping a respectful distance.
How Fast Can a Tassie Devil Run?
Up to about 13 km/h in short bursts — quick enough for a scuffle, though they are plodders over long distances and much prefer an easy meal to a chase.
How Many Are Left in the Wild?
Estimates put the wild population at roughly 15,000–25,000, down from well over 100,000 before the disease arrived in the 1990s.
What Are Baby Devils Called?
Like their kangaroo cousins, babies are called joeys — though a mother can rear only about four at a time despite giving birth to dozens.
Are Devils Related to Koalas?
Distantly, yes — both the treetop sleepers and the burrowing bulldozers come from an ancient shared family tree, though the devil’s true nearest kin are the smaller quolls. Read the full koala facts and wombat facts guides to meet the cousins.
Do Devils Really Spin in Circles?
Rarely, and never for fun. Confused or excited devils can spin briefly, and the cartoon exaggerated the habit into an act of pure rage — the real animal mostly saves its energy for eating.
Can You Keep a Devil as a Pet?
No. They are protected wildlife, and even experienced carers need special licences. A pet that crushes bones at dinner and screams all night is nobody’s idea of a companion.
Why Do Devils Yawn So Much?
That toothy yawn is a bluff — a nervous display shown when the animal feels cornered. Baring a mouthful of teeth looks fierce, but it is usually a request to be left alone, often paired with a low growl.
References and Sources
- Official program updates: savedevil.org.au
- State species guide: nre.tas.gov.au