Truth about Tasmanian Devils
Marsupial, or tasmanian, the devil (Sarcophilus laniarius; ustar. Sarcophilus harrisii) – a mammal family of carnivorous marsupial, the only species of the genus Sarcophilus. His black coloring, a huge mouth with sharp teeth, ominous night cries and fierce temper gave the first European settlers authority nickname of the stocky predator «devil». Its scientific name is translated from Greek as “amateur flesh”.
Tasmanian devil – the largest of modern marsupial predators. This dense and stocky animal the size of a small dog, but a heavy build and dark color more like a miniature bear. The length of his body 50-80 cm, tail – 23-30 see body sizes depend on age, habitat and food. Males larger than females. Large males weigh up to 12 kg with a height of the shoulders to 30 cm.
Currently, only makes a devil on the island of Tasmania, although he had previously inhabited and mainland Australia. On the mainland, he disappeared about 600 years ago (over 400 years before the first Europeans in Australia) – supposedly marginalized and the extermination of dogs dingo brought Aborigines. In Tasmania, European settlers also ruthlessly cut off the devil, because the shipwreck roost. As a result, as far as the development of the island devil departed farther into undeveloped forests and mountain areas of Tasmania, and its strength has steadily declined, while in 1941 the hunt for him has not been formally banned. Now tasmanskie dyavoly usually in the central, northern and western parts of the island in the territories set aside under the station, as well as in national parks of Tasmania.
Tasmananian devil cause much trouble to European settler destroyed roost, eat the animals caught in kapkany, and allegedly attacking sheep and lambs, which these animals are actively pursued. In addition, meat devil turned out edible and reportedly colonists to taste like veal. By June 1941, when the law was enacted for the Protection of tasmanskogo devil, he was on the brink of extinction. However, unlike tilatsina (vymer in 1936), population devil has restored and now they are quite numerous. Their population, like the kvollov, exposed to strong seasonal fluctuations, as the annual summer (December-January), young devil leave for mothers and scattered in the territory in search of food. However, 60% of them die within the first few months, not stood the food competition.
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