Ask a Tasmanian Devil
What if you could ask an animal any question you wanted? What would you ask? Today, learn all aboutTasmanian devils in this imaginary Kid Scoop interview!
Q: Just what kind of animal is
a Tasmanian devil?
A: We are not bears or dogs. We are marsupials, just like a kangaroo or a koala. Mama devils carry their babies in their pouches. When the babies grow too big for the pouch, they ride on mom’s back.
To find out what a baby Tasmanian devil is called, write the letter that comes after each letter in the empty boxes.
Q: What do Tasmanian devils eat?
A: We are carnivores. That means we eat _________. And we’re also scavengers, which means we mostly eat dead or dying animals we ________.
_______________ believe that Tasmanian devils were once good runners. But since the ______________ of cars, we get plenty of food by eating the animals that get run over. So, we don’t have to cover large ______________ searching for food like we did back in the old days.
Q: AreTasmanian devils strong?
A: Well, we have incredibly strong jaws. In proportion to our body weight, we have the strongest bite of any living animal!
We store fat in our tails. We use that energy when food is hard to find. So if you see a Tasmanian devil with a plump tail, it means that animal is in good condition.
Q: What do Tasmanian devils look like?
A: Some people think we look like tiny bears. Others say we look like a short-nosed dog. Our heads are large with powerful jaws and sharp teeth. Our fur is thick and black, and most (but not all) Tasmanian devils have a white stripe running across our chests.
Q: Why are you called devils?
A: That’s a great question! Tasmanian devils aren’t dangerous to people. We’re actually shy animals.
The name “devil” may come from the sounds we make. We make eerie growls at night when looking for food. I guess it scares some folks. Sorry! We can’t help it.
Q: Do Tasmanian devils really spin like the cartoon one does?
A: While we don’t spin around like the cartoon character, we Tasmanian devils can get quite excited as we devour our dinner. We make loud noises as we chomp up fur and bones and tear through meat with our incredibly powerful jaws.
But don’t try eating like us. Your parents would say that we have absolutely terrible table manners!