Tasmanian devil

It is an animal of the Marsupial order of Mammalia, family Posadidae. It is also called the Posad Badger or the Posad Badger. It is found only on the island of Tasmania. Its head and body length is 47-83 cm, its tail length is 22-30 cm, and it weighs 5.5-9 kg. Its body is sturdy, with a large head, powerful jaw muscles, and strong teeth. Its snout is short and wide. The upper coat of its body is coarse, and the undercoat is woolly. Its body color is black or dark black-brown, and it has a crescent-shaped white spot on its throat, but some lack it. It has no first toe on its hind feet. The female's brood pouch develops only during the breeding season, and opens backwards. It has four nipples. It is nocturnal, and lives alone in rocky areas such as riverbanks, coasts, and valleys, or in forests and shrubs. During the day, it hides in rock holes, hollows of tree stumps, or under stones. They prey on a variety of animals, including frogs, crayfish, fish, sheep, and chickens. They give birth to 1-4 young at a time. The young are 12 millimeters in size, have closed eyes, and have no hair on their bodies. They are raised in a pouch. They live for about 7 years.

[Ryuji Nakazato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱有袋目フクロネコ科の動物。フクログマ、フクロアナグマともいう。タスマニア島だけに分布する。頭胴長47～83センチメートル、尾長22～30センチメートル、体重5.5～9キログラム。体は頑丈で頭は大きく、あごの筋肉は強力で歯も強い。吻(ふん)は短く幅広い。体の上毛は粗く、下毛は羊毛状である。体色は黒または暗い黒茶色で、のどに月輪状の白斑(はくはん)があるが、欠くものもある。後ろ足の第1指はない。雌の育児嚢(のう)は繁殖期だけに発達し、後方に開口する。乳頭は4個。夜行性で、川岸、海岸、谷間などの岩石地、あるいは森林、低木林などに単独で生活する。昼間は岩穴や木の株のうろ、石の下などに隠れている。種々の動物を捕食し、カエル、ザリガニ、魚などから、ヒツジ、ニワトリまで食べる。1産1～4子。子の大きさは12ミリメートルで、目は閉じ、体には毛が生えていない。子は育児嚢で育てられる。寿命は7年ほどである。

［中里竜二］

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