Special Sub-Topic: The Devil and the Tiger Click Here To Play: The Devil and the Tiger

What colour are Tasmanian devils?

Black and white. The Tasmanian devil's scientific name is 'Sarcophilus harrisii' and it is the size of a small dog. Though it is mainly black in colour it has white markings on its chest.

Tasmanian devils are mainly scavengers.

t. Though they mainly feed on the dead bodies of wallabies and sheep, Tasmanian devils will take other smaller animals as prey.

The Tasmanian devil used to live on the Australian mainland. About how long ago did they become extinct there?

600 years. The arrival of the dingo in Australia probably caused the slow demise of the Tasmanian devil, and also the Tasmanian tiger, on the mainland. The dingo never made it to Tasmania.

What is the gestation period of a Tasmanian devil?

21 days. Because it is a marsupial, a Tasmanian devil gives birth to very immature young which develop further while in the mother's pouch.

What is the Tasmanian devil population status?

Vulnerable to extinction. Up to recently the Tasmanian devil had been listed as abundant and safe. However because of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease is status was changed in 2006.

Which of the following is the more correct name for the Tasmanian tiger?

Thylacine. Its scientific name is 'Thylacinus cynocephalus'. Though it is a marsupial the tiger looks like a dog with stripes. This is a classic example of convergent evolution in which unrelated animals develop similar characteristics when their environment is similar.

The Tasmanian tiger is the only mammal to become extinct in Tasmania since white settlement.

t. This is in sharp contrast to the Australian mainland where many species have become extinct.

In what year did the last known Tasmanian tiger die?

1936. The last known Tasmanian tiger died in the Hobart Zoo on 7th September, 1936.

When was the Tasmanian tiger declared extinct?

1986. In accordance with international standards, the Tasmanian tiger was declared extinct in 1986 - 50 years after the last tiger died.

In which of these places, in the last 50 years, hasn't there been sightings of a Tasmanian tiger or an animal that could be a Tasmanian tiger?

New Zealand. The Tasmanian tiger is one of the liveliest extinct animals to not be found! There has even been a reported sighting in England.