Marsupials: Tasmanian Devils

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Tasmanian devils are the most aggressive type of marsupial!

They are pouched mammals just like kangaroos, koalas, gliders, wombats, and numbats.

• Can you remember the characteristics mammals have?

If not, take a look at the lesson found in Additional Resources in the right-hand sidebar.

Also, if you missed or would like to review the previous Related Lessons in our Marsupials series, find them in the right-hand sidebar.

Tasmania devils can be found in Tasmania. Tasmania is an island state of Australia. They make their homes in many different places. Tasmanian devils often live in burrows and hollow logs but can sometimes be found living in caves.

These critters are nocturnal. They are up all night searching for food. Their strong sense of smell and excellent vision helps them locate prey. Read on to learn about the diet of Tasmanian devils.

Despite how small and cute they are, you would never want to cross paths with this aggressive marsupial in the wild! It uses its large, sharp teeth to attack predators and prey.

These critters will attack any predators that threaten them. They often will cause fights with other Tasmanian devils when they are trying to find a mate. In addition to this, they will attack any animal that gets near its meal! They are carnivores.

• What is a carnivore?

If you don't know or don't exactly remember, check out our lesson found in Additional Resources in the right-hand sidebar.

Great work! You know carnivores are meat-eaters.

Tasmanian devils have twenty to thirty babies at a time. Mother Tasmanian devils only have enough room in their pouch to raise around four babies at a time. The babies that do not make it to the pouch in time will not survive.

The babies that make it to the pouch stay in the pouch for about three to four months. After they leave the pouch, they will learn how to hunt with their mother. By the time they are nine months old, they will be ready to live on their own.

Look at the young Tasmanian devils sunbathing below:

^{Image by tearsxintherain, via Wikimedia Commons, is licensed under the CC BY 2.0 license.}

Before moving on to the next section, explain why you don't want to cross paths with a Tasmanian devil.

When you are finished, move on to the Got It? section to see some amazing videos about Tasmanian devils!