Tasmanian Devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: 19/05/2009
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: 30/06/2008
Population trend: Decreasing
Other names: None
Priority Species? No
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
The Tasmanian Devel is the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial and are endemic to Tasmania and is found throughout the mainland. The Tasmanian Devel is a nocturnal hunter and scavenger with their main prey being macropods, possums and wombats.
Threats
The main threats identified to the Tasmanian Devel are DFTD (Devil Facial Tumour Disease) and because they favour food sources such as carcasses from roads, they also expose themselves increasingly to being killed by motor vehicles.