Tasmanian devil Facts for Kids
Sarcophilus harrisii · sar-koh-FIL-us huh-RIS-ee-eye
A black, sturdy animal that cleans up leftovers on an island of Australia.
- 🏃 speed: not yet checked
- ⚖️ 9 to 26 lb4.1 to 12 kg1
- 📏 21 to 31 in53 to 80 cm1 long
- 🎂 5 years5 years1
- 🍽️ plants and animals
- In danger (Endangered)
A Tasmanian devil is a sturdy animal with dark fur. It lives on the island of Tasmania. It sleeps in a den in a hollow log, a cave or a burrow.
A Tasmanian devil is a marsupial, an animal with a pouch. Most of its food is what other animals have left behind, such as wombats, wallabies, sheep and rabbits. It also eats insects and snakes.
The Tasmanian devil lives on the island of Tasmania, which is part of Australia. It is most common near the coast, in scrub and open land. By day it rests in a den in a hollow log, a cave or a burrow. Most of its food is what other animals have left behind, and it also eats insects, snakes and a little plant food. In the wild, a devil lives only a few years.
How big is a tasmanian devil?
Tasmanian devil in numbers
| Length | 21 to 31 in53 to 80 cm1total length, with the tail |
|---|---|
| Height at the shoulder | no checked number yet |
| Weight | 9 to 26 lb4.1 to 12 kg1males and females |
| Top speed | no checked number yet |
| How long it lives | 5 years5 years1up to; in the wild |
| What it eats | mostly food other animals have left, plus insects, snakes and a few plants |
| Where it lives | the island of Tasmania, most often near the coast in scrub and open land |
| What kind | Mammals |
| Is it in danger? | In danger (Endangered)2 |
A number we couldn’t find on a page we trust says so, instead of guessing.
Wow!
- A Tasmanian devil rests in hollow logs, caves and burrows.
- Most of its food is what other animals have left behind.
- It also eats insects and snakes, and a little plant food.
Compare the tasmanian devil
Friends and neighbours
Koala
Red kangaroo
Honey badgerThree questions
Books about the tasmanian devil, free at the library
Ask a grown-up to tap the button: it shows where to borrow a book about the tasmanian devil for free.
For teachers
Use this animal in class: its facts are on this page, and the cards print from it.
Where these numbers come from
- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Animal Diversity Web: Sarcophilus harrisii (Tasmanian devil), checked 10 November 2026.
- Wikidata, from the IUCN Red List, checked 10 November 2026.
- Wikidata, Tasmanian devil (Q134964), checked 30 October 2026.