What is a Tasmanian devil like? Here is how it looks. A Tasmanian devil looks like a small, stocky dog. Most devils have black fur. They have white markings on the chest, and sometimes on the rump. Large devils stand about 30 centimeters high at the shoulder. Zoos give a devil's weight as about 5 to 14 kilograms (11 to 30 pounds). A zoo or museum lists its body length as about 55 to 65 centimeters.

Wild devils live on the island of Tasmania. It is part of Australia. Fossils show that Tasmanian devils once lived on the Australian mainland. A few have been released into a protected sanctuary on the mainland. As of November 2026, the Tasmanian devil is listed as an endangered species.

Devils are nocturnal. This means they are active after dark. By day, devils rest in dens in hollow logs or caves. A devil has a keen sense of smell. It uses it to find food. In one night, a devil may travel as far as 16 kilometers (10 miles). It is looking for food.

A devil's big head and heavy teeth are made for crushing bone. Its strong jaws and teeth let it eat nearly all of its food. It can even eat bones and fur. Scientists estimate that, for its size, a devil's bite is about as strong as the bite of a dog four times heavier.

Devils usually live alone. But several may feed at the same dead animal. When several of them feed together, they make loud growls and screeches. A devil's wide yawn looks threatening. You may think a yawn that wide means that the devil is angry. In fact, it shows fear and uncertainty more than anger.

A baby devil grows inside its mother for only about 21 days before it is born. Newborn devils are tiny, about the size of a grain of rice. A mother devil carries her babies in a pouch for about four months. Her pouch has only four teats. So no more than four babies can stay in it. Baby devils are called imps.

Devils mostly eat animals that have already died. Besides eating dead animals, devils hunt live prey such as small mammals and birds. Devils are gorge feeders. They eat a large amount of food at one time. By eating dead animals, devils help keep the bush clean.

Words to know

• nocturnal: awake at night
• prey: hunted animals
• sanctuary: safe place
• pouch: baby pocket
• imps: baby devils

The short version

The Tasmanian devil looks like a small, stocky dog. Wild devils live on the island of Tasmania, which is part of Australia. Devils are nocturnal, so they are active after dark. They mostly eat animals that have already died, and so they help keep the bush clean.

Quick facts

• Most Tasmanian devils have black fur with white markings on the chest.
• Zoos give a devil's weight as about 5 to 14 kilograms (11 to 30 pounds).
• In one night, a devil may travel as far as 16 kilometers (10 miles). It is looking for food.
• A baby devil grows inside its mother for only about 21 days before it is born.