The Tasmanian devil is a nocturnal species and the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. The devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. Body size varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat.
Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Large males can weigh up to 12kg, and stand about 30cm high at the shoulder.
Devils have at least 11 distinct vocalisations, including ‘snort’, ‘hump-growl’, ‘bark’, ‘clap’ (snapping of the jaws), ‘growl-whine’ ‘screech’ and ‘sneeze’. They also snore and sigh. Many vocalisations are bluff and part of a ritual to intimidate other devils to avert a fight when feeding communally at a large carcass.
Listed as endangered, they are threatened with extinction due to the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - a devastating disease that emerged in 1996 and still has no cure.
Once widespread throughout Australia, devils are now only found in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian devils at Auckland Zoo came to be part of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program - to raise awareness of their species and to be part of an insurance population.