My Science School

If you are on the Australian island of Tasmania, chances are that you will run into the Tasmanian devil. It is the largest meat-eating marsupial in the world.

The Tasmanian devil earned its reputation (and nickname) because it emits spine-chilling screeches, growls and screams when defending itself or its young from a predator, when hunting, or when fighting over a meal.

It comes out at night to prey on small animals like birds, snakes, fish, insects, and it also feeds on carrion. Devils will eat everything. They have powerful bone-crushing jaws that can deliver one of the strongest bites known.

The female gives birth to nearly 30 babies at a time – aptly called ‘imps’. They are as small as raisins and must crawl through her hair to climb into the backward facing pouch. There are only four nipples in the pouch, so only that many babies survive.

Picture Credit : Google