Tasmanian Devil[1]
A male Tasmanian Devil.
Conservation status
Vulnerable (EPBC Act) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Dasyuromorphia Family: Dasyuridae Genus: Sarcophilus Species: S. harrisii
Binomial name
Sarcophilus harrisii (Boitard, 1841)

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), also referred to simply as 'the devil', is a carnivorous marsupial now found in the wild only in the Australian island state of Tasmania. The Tasmanian Devil is the only extant member of the genus Sarcophilus. The size of a small dog, but stocky and muscular, the Tasmanian Devil is now the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world (after the recent extinction of the Thylacine in 1936). It is characterised by its black fur, offensive odour when stressed, extremely loud and disturbing screech, and viciousness when feeding. It is known to both hunt prey and scavenge carrion and although it is usually solitary, it sometimes eats with other devils. A Tasmanian Devil is an Australian marsupial. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1348x1282, 765 KB) Summary Tasmanian Devil in defensive stance Taken with Nikon D100 on Tasman Peninsula at Tasmanian Devil Park by Wayne McLean ( jgritz) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Tasmanian Devil ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_EPBC_VU.svg‎ All possible categories. ... This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Orders Superorder Ameridelphia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Superorder Australidelphia Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium, from which the name Marsupial derives) in which it rears its young through early infancy. ... Families †Thylacinidae Dasyuridae Myrmecobiidae The order Dasyuromorphia (meaning hairy tail[1]) is made up of most carnivorous marsupials, including quolls, dunnarts, the Numbat, the Tasmanian Devil, and the recently extinct Thylacine. ... Subfamilies & Tribes Dasyurinae Dasyurini Phascogalini Sminthopsinae Sminthopsini Planigalini The marsupial family Dasyuridae includes 61 species divided into 15 genera. ... Type species Sarcophilus laniarius Owen, 1838 Species S. harrisii † † Sarcophilus is a genus of carnivorous marsupial best known for its only living member the Tasmanian Devil. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Pierre Boitard (1789–1859) was a French botanist and geologist. ... Carnivorism redirects here. ... This article is about mammals. ... The states and territories of Australia make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Type species Sarcophilus laniarius Owen, 1838 Species S. harrisii † † Sarcophilus is a genus of carnivorous marsupial best known for its only living member the Tasmanian Devil. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... For other uses, see Extinction (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. ... Aroma redirects here. ... An American Black Vulture feeding on squirrel carrion For other uses, see Carrion (disambiguation). ...

The Tasmanian Devil became extirpated on the Australian mainland about 400 years before European settlement in 1788. Because they were seen as a threat to livestock in Tasmania, devils were hunted until 1941, when they became officially protected. Since the late 1990s devil facial tumour disease has reduced the devil population significantly and now threatens the survival of the species, which may soon be listed as endangered. Programs are currently being undertaken by the Tasmanian government to reduce the impact of the disease. Extirpation is the localized extinction of a species. ... // Prehistory and aboriginal legends Humans first arrived in Australia through Indonesia and New Guinea, either by paddling canoes across the Timor Sea or by crossing a land bridge across what is now Torres Strait, between New Guinea and Australia. ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... Devil facial tumour disease causes tumours to form in and around the mouth, interfering with feeding and eventually leading to death by starvation. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... Tasmanian Coat of Arms featuring two Thylacines The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ...

Taxonomy

Naturalist George Harris wrote the first published description of the Tasmanian Devil in 1807, naming it Didelphis ursina.^[3] In 1838 the devil was renamed Dasyurus laniarius by Richard Owen, before being moved to the genus Sarcophilus in 1841 and named Sarcophilus harrisii, or "Harris's meat-lover", by Pierre Boitard. A later revision of the devil's taxonomy, published in 1987, attempted to change the species name to Sarcophilus laniarius based on mainland fossil records of only a few animals.^[4] However, this was not accepted by the taxonomic community at large and the name S. harrisii has been retained and S. laniarius relegated to fossil species.^[1] Phylogenetic analysis shows that the devil is most closely related to quolls, and more distantly to the extinct Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger).^[5] George Prideaux Robert Harris (1775 - 1810) was a deputy surveyor and naturalist in Tasmania, Australia from 1803. ... Sir Richard Owen KCB (July 20, 1804–December 18, 1892) was an English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist. ... Pierre Boitard (1789–1859) was a French botanist and geologist. ... Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... Type species Didelphis maculata Anon. ... Binomial name (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. ...

Physical description

The Devil's whiskers help it locate prey.

The Tasmanian Devil is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial in Australia. It has a squat and thick build, with a large head and a tail which is about half its body length. The devil stores body fat in its tail, so unhealthy devils often have thin tails. Unusually for a marsupial, its forelegs are slightly longer than its hind legs. Devils can run up to 13 km (8.1 mi) per hour for short distances. The fur is usually black, although irregular white patches on the chest and rump are common. Males are usually larger than females, having an average head and body length of 652 mm (25.7 in), with a 258 mm (10.2 in) tail, and an average weight of 8 kg (18 lb). Females have an average head and body length of 570 mm (22 in), with a 244 mm (9.6 in) tail, and an average weight of 6 kg (13 lb).^[6] The average life expectancy of a Tasmanian Devil in the wild is estimated at six years, although they may live longer in captivity. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1365 pixel, file size: 493 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1365 pixel, file size: 493 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about mammals. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with human weight. ... This article is about the measure of remaining life. ...

The devil has long whiskers on its face and in clumps on the top of the head. These help the devil locate prey when foraging in the dark, and aid in detecting when other devils are close during feeding. When agitated, the devil can produce a strong odour, its pungency rivaling even the skunk. Hearing is its dominant sense, and it also has an excellent sense of smell. Since devils hunt at night, their vision seems to be strongest in black and white. In these conditions they can detect moving objects readily, but have difficulty seeing stationary objects.^[7] An analysis of mammalian bite force relative to the body size shows that the devil has the strongest bite of any living mammal.^[8] The power of the jaw is in part due to its comparatively large head. A Tasmanian Devil also has one set of teeth that grows slowly throughout its life.^[7] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Polecat redirects here. ... ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ...

Reproduction

Developmental steps in the maturation of Tasmanian Devil young. The diagonal lines indicate the amount of time the changes take; for example, it takes 41 days for a devil to develop fur over all its body.

Females start to breed when they reach sexual maturity, typically in their second year. At this point, they become fertile once a year, producing multiple ova while in heat.^[9] Mating occurs in March, in sheltered locations during both day and night. Males fight over females in the breeding season, and female devils will mate with the dominant male. Devils are not monogamous, and females will mate with several males if not guarded after mating. Gestation lasts 31 days, and devils give birth to 20–30 young,^[7] each weighing approximately 0.18–0.24 grams.^[10] When the young are born, they move from the vagina to the pouch. Once inside the pouch, they each remain attached to a nipple for the next 100 days. The female Tasmanian Devil's pouch, like that of the wombat, opens to the rear, so it is physically difficult for the female to interact with young inside the pouch. Despite the large litter at birth, the female has only four nipples, so that no more than four young can survive birth. On average, more females survive than males.^[9] Image File history File links Created by User:Petaholmes from data in Guiler, E.R. 1970. ... Image File history File links Created by User:Petaholmes from data in Guiler, E.R. 1970. ... The oestrus cycle (also Å“strus or estrous cycle) refers to the recurring physiologic changes that are induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian placental females (humans and great apes are the only mammals who undergo a menstrual cycle instead). ... A human ovum Sperm cells attempting to fertilize an ovum An ovum (plural ova) is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. ... Faithfulness redirects here. ... Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. ... For other uses, see Wombat (disambiguation). ...

Inside the pouch, the nourished young develop quickly. At 15 days the external parts of the ear are visible. Eyelids are apparent at 16 days, whiskers at 17 days, and the lips at 20 days. The young start to grow fur at 49 days and have a full coat by 90 days. Their eyes open shortly after their fur coat develops—between 87 and 93 days—and their mouths can relax their hold of the nipple at 100 days.^[9] They leave the pouch 105 days after birth, appearing as small copies of the parent and weighing approximately 500 grams (18 oz). Unlike kangaroo joeys, young devils do not return to the pouch; instead, they remain in the den for another three months, first venturing outside the den between October and December before becoming independent in January. Female devils are occupied with raising their young for all but approximately six weeks of the year. Species Macropus rufus Macropus giganteus Macropus fuliginosus Macropus antilopinus A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning large foot). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the Red Kangaroo, the Antilopine Kangaroo, and the Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroo... A joey of Tasmanian Pademelon looking out from the mothers pouch A joey is any infant marsupial. ...

Ecology and behaviour

Although Tasmanian Devils are nocturnal, they like to rest in the sun. Scarring from fighting is visible next to this devil's left eye.

Tasmanian Devils are widespread and fairly common throughout Tasmania. Found in all habitats on the island, including the outskirts of urban areas, they particularly like dry sclerophyll forests and coastal woodlands. The Tasmanian Devil is a nocturnal and crepuscular hunter, spending the days in dense bush or in a hole. Young devils can climb trees, but this becomes more difficult as they grow larger. Devils can also swim. They are predominantly solitary animals and do not form packs.^[10] They occupy territories of 8–20 km², which can overlap considerably amongst different animals. Download high resolution version (2240x1488, 919 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2240x1488, 919 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Arid, largely treeless areas aside, most Australian bushland is sclerophyll forest. ... A bat illustrating nocturnal features. ... Adult Firefly or Lightning Bug – a Crepuscular Beetle Photuris lucicrescens Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during the twilight. ...

A devil eating a wallaby killed by a car earlier that day

Tasmanian Devils can take prey up to the size of a small wallaby, but in practice they are opportunistic and eat carrion more often than they hunt live prey. Although the devil favours wombats, it will eat all small native mammals, domestic mammals (including sheep), birds, fish, insects, frogs and reptiles. Their diet is largely varied and depends on the food available.^[7] On average, they eat about 15% of their body weight each day; however, they can eat up to 40% of their body weight in 30 minutes if the opportunity arises.^[11] Tasmanian Devils eliminate all traces of a carcass, devouring the bones and fur in addition to the meat and internal organs. In this respect, the devil has earned the gratitude of Tasmanian farmers, as the speed at which they clean a carcass helps prevent the spread of insects that might otherwise harm livestock. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1519x1006, 331 KB) Опис файлу Tasmanian devil eating a wallaby killed by a car earlier that day. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1519x1006, 331 KB) Опис файлу Tasmanian devil eating a wallaby killed by a car earlier that day. ... For other uses, see Wallaby (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wallaby (disambiguation). ... An American Black Vulture feeding on squirrel carrion For other uses, see Carrion (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Vombatus ursinus Shaw, 1800 The wombat is an Australian marsupial in appearance rather like a small, very short-legged and muscular bear approximately 1 metre in length, and with a mere nubbin of a tail. ...

Eating is a social event for the Tasmanian Devil, and much of the noise attributed to the animal is a result of raucous communal eating, at which up to 12 individuals can gather and which can often be heard several kilometers away. A study of feeding devils identified 20 physical postures, including their characteristic vicious yawn, and 11 different vocal sounds that devils use to communicate as they feed. They usually establish dominance by sound and physical posturing, although fighting does occur.^[11] Adult males are the most aggressive, and scarring is common from fighting over food and mates.

Conservation status

For some time, Tasmania was the last refuge of large marsupial carnivores. All of the larger carnivorous marsupials became extinct in mainland Australia shortly after humans arrived. Only the smallest and most adaptable survived. Fossil evidence from western Victoria shows that Tasmanian Devils retained a place on the Australian mainland until around 600 years ago (about 400 years before European colonisation).^[6] Their extinction is attributed to predation by dingoes and hunting by indigenous Australians.^[12] In dingo-free Tasmania, carnivorous marsupials were still active when Europeans arrived. The extermination of the Thylacine after the arrival of the Europeans is well known, but the Tasmanian Devil was threatened as well. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 499 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 959 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 499 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 959 pixels, file size: 1. ... VIC redirects here. ... // Prehistory and aboriginal legends Humans first arrived in Australia through Indonesia and New Guinea, either by paddling canoes across the Timor Sea or by crossing a land bridge across what is now Torres Strait, between New Guinea and Australia. ... For other uses, see Dingo (disambiguation). ... Australian Aborigines are the indigenous peoples of Australia. ... Binomial name (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. ...

The first Tasmanian settlers ate Tasmanian Devil, which they described as tasting like veal.^[3] As it was believed devils would hunt and kill livestock, a bounty scheme to remove the devil from rural properties was introduced as early as 1830. Over the next 100 years, trapping and poisoning brought them to the brink of extinction. After the death of the last Thylacine in 1936, the threat to the devils was recognized. The Tasmanian Devil was protected by law in 1941, and the population slowly recovered.

At least two major population declines, possibly due to a disease epidemic, have occurred in recorded history: in 1909 and 1950.^[6] The Tasmanian Devil's current population is reported by Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries and Water as being in the range of 10,000 to 100,000 individuals, with 20,000 to 50,000 mature individuals being likely.^[7] Senior Scientist for the Devil Facial Tumour Disease program Hamish McCallum offers a more conservative estimate of at least 20,000 individuals and at most 75,000.^[13]

Devil facial tumour disease

Devil facial tumour disease causes tumours to form in and around the mouth, interfering with feeding and eventually leading to death by starvation.

First seen in 1995, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has ravaged Tasmania's wild devils, and estimates of the impact range from 20% to as much as a 50% decline in the devil population with over 65% of the State affected.^[14][15] Affected high-density populations suffer up to 100% mortality in 12–18 months.^[16] The species was listed as vulnerable under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in 2006 which means that it is at risk of extinction in the "medium term".^[17][18] The IUCN does not regard the species as threatened; when this species was last evaluated for the IUCN in 1996, it was listed as lower risk/least concern.^[19] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 518 pixel Image in higher resolution (1011 × 654 pixel, file size: 913 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Devil facial tumour... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 518 pixel Image in higher resolution (1011 × 654 pixel, file size: 913 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Devil facial tumour... Devil facial tumour disease causes tumours to form in and around the mouth, interfering with feeding and eventually leading to death by starvation. ... The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

Main article: Devil facial tumour disease

Wild Tasmanian Devil populations are being monitored to track the spread of the disease and to identify changes in disease prevalence. Field monitoring involves trapping devils within a defined area to check for the presence of the disease and determine the number of affected animals. The same area is visited repeatedly to characterise the spread of the disease over time. So far, it has been established that the short-term effects of the disease in an area can be severe. Long-term monitoring at replicated sites will be essential to assess whether these effects remain, or whether populations can recover.^[15] Field workers are also testing the effectiveness of disease suppression by trapping and removing diseased devils. It is hoped that the removal of diseased devils from wild populations should decrease disease prevalence and allow more devils to survive beyond their juvenile years and breed.^[15] Devil facial tumour disease causes tumours to form in and around the mouth, interfering with feeding and eventually leading to death by starvation. ...

Two 'insurance' populations of disease-free devils are being established at an urban facility in the Hobart suburb of Taroona and on Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania. Captive breeding in mainland zoos is also a possibility. The decline in devil numbers is also seen as an ecological problem, since its presence in the Tasmanian forest ecosystem is believed to have prevented the establishment of the Red Fox, illegally introduced to Tasmania in 2001.^[16][20] Foxes are a problematic invasive species in all other Australian States, and the establishment of foxes in Tasmania would hinder the recovery of the Tasmanian Devil. Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. ... Taroona, a southern riverside suburb of greater Hobart. ... Maria Island is a relatively small island about 10 km off the east coast of Tasmania. ... Captive breeding is the process of breeding endangered animals by capturing them from their natural environment, breeding them in restricted conditions in zoos and other conservation facilities, and releasing them back to the wild when the population stabilizes and the threat to the animal in the wild is lessened or... A coral reef near the Hawaiian islands is an example of a complex marine ecosystem. ... For other uses, see Red Fox (disambiguation). ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... The states and territories of Australia make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ...

Recent research from the University of Sydney has shown that the infectious facial cancer may be able to spread because of vanishingly low genetic diversity in devil immune genes (MHC class I and II) - raising questions about how well small, and potentially inbred, populations of animals are able to survive.^[21] The University of Sydney, established in Sydney in 1850, is the oldest university in Australia. ... Genetic diversity is a characteristic of ecosystems and gene pools that describes an attribute which is commonly held to be advantageous for survival -- that there are many different versions of otherwise similar organisms. ... MHC class I molecules are cell surface proteins found on most cells of the body. ... The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a large genomic region or gene family found in most vertebrates. ...

Cultural references

The Tasmanian Devil is an iconic animal within Australia; it is the symbol of the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Tasmanian Australian rules football team which plays in the Victorian Football League is known as the Devils. The defunct Hobart Devils basketball team in the NBL was also named after the animal. The devil was one of six native Australian animals to appear on commemorative Australian two hundred dollar coins issued between 1989 and 1994. Tasmanian Devils are popular with domestic and international tourists. Because of their unique personality the Tasmanian Devil has been the subject of numerous documentaries and non-fiction children's books. The most recent Australian documentary on the Tasmanian Devil, Terrors of Tasmania, directed and produced by David Parer and Elizabeth Parer-Cook, was released in 2005. The documentary follows a female devil called Manganinnie through breeding season and the birth and rearing of her young. The documentary also looks at the effect of devil facial tumor disease and the conservation measures being taken to ensure survival of the Tasmanian Devil. The documentary has screened on television in Australia and in the United States on the National Geographic Channel. High marking is a key skill and spectacular attribute of Australian rules football Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Australian rules football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of... This article is about the present day Victorian state football league. ... The Tasmanian Devils Football Club is an Australian rules football team, in the Victorian Football League in Australia. ... {{Infobox aus sport club | clubname = Hobart Devils | image = | fullname = Hobart Devils | emblem = The Magpies | strip = White, Red, Black | founded = 1983 | sport = Basketball | league = National Basketball League | firstseason = 1983 | ground = Derwent Entertainment Centre | capacity = 5,400 | season = 1996 | song = none | president = Alick Smith | coach = Matthew Gangell | captain = Christian Gangell | position = Pg... This article is about the sport. ... The National Basketball League is Australias top-level professional basketball competition. ... Australian coins refers to the coins which are or were in use as Australian currency. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... David Parer is an award-winning Australian natural history film maker. ... The National Geographic Channel is a subscription television network that features documentaries produced by the National Geographic Society. ...

Restrictions on the export of the Tasmanian Devil means that devils can only be seen kept in captivity in Australia. The last known overseas devil died at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo in 2004^[22]. However, the Tasmanian Government has sent a pair of devils to the Copenhagen Zoo, following the birth of the first son of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark and his Tasmanian wife Mary in October 2005.^[23] These are the only devils that can be seen outside Australia. The Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo (FWCZ) is a 38 acre (0. ... Copenhagen Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Europe. ... Prince Christian of Denmark (Christian Valdemar Henri John), born 15 October 2005, is the son of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his wife, the Australian born Crown Princess Mary. ... Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (born Frederik André Henrik Christian on 26 May 1968 in Copenhagen, Denmark) is the eldest son of Queen Margrethe II and her husband, Prince Consort Henrik. ... Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (Danish: ), née Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, was born 5 February 1972 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, and is the wife of Crown Prince Frederik who is the heir to the Danish throne. ...

The Tasmanian Devil is probably best known internationally as the inspiration for the Looney Tunes cartoon character The Tasmanian Devil, or "Taz". While the cartoon incarnation does resemble a stylized Devil (prominent canines, large head, short legs) the behavioral similarities between the two seem to be limited, consisting mainly of a noisy comportment, voracious appetite, and shy demeanor. Researchers have also named a genetic-mutant mouse "the Tasmanian devil". The mutant mouse is defective in the development of sensory-hair cells of the ear, leading the mutant to abnormal behaviours including head-tossing and circling,^[24] more like the cartoon "Taz" than the actual Tasmanian Devil. Looney Tunes opening title Looney Tunes is a Warner Brothers animated cartoon series which ran in many movie theatres from 1930 to 1969. ... “Taz” redirects here. ... This article is about the animal. ...

See also

• Fauna of Australia
• Threatened fauna of Australia

The Red Kangaroo is the largest macropod and is one of Australias heraldic animals, appearing with the Emu on the Coat of Arms of Australia. ... Threatened fauna of Australia are those species and subspecies of birds, fish, frogs, insects, mammals, molluscs and reptiles to be found in Australia that are in danger of becoming extinct. ...

Notes and references

Dr Colin Groves is a Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. ... is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Science is the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Sarcophilus

Wikispecies has information related to:

Sarcophilus harrisii

Listen to this article ( info/dl)

This audio file was created from a revision dated 2006-08-08, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help)

More spoken articles

• Parks and Wildlife Tasmania - Tasmanian Devil vocalisation, movie, faq
• Save the Tasmanian Devil
• Mainland Tasmanian Devils Do Tasmanian Devils still exist in mainland Australia?

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikispecies-logo. ... Wikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation that aims to create a comprehensive free content catalogue of all species (including animalia, plantae, fungi, bacteria, archaea, and protista). ... Image File history File links Tasmanian_Devil. ... Image File history File links Sound-icon. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...