Because Tasmanian devils are marsupials, their young are born as external embryos, just the size of a grain of rice, and must find their way into the mother’s pouch to continue developing.
Because Tasmanian devils are marsupials, their young are born as external embryos, just the size of a grain of rice, and must find their own way into the mother’s pouch. Once in the pouch, they remain and continue developing for three-four months. The mother tasmianian devil will nurse and protect the offspring in the pouch during most of their development.
At two weeks, ears begin to form on the embryos. At seven weeks, they begin to grow hair and fur. At around three months old, the young can open their eyes for the first time and emerge from the mother’s pouch. At this time, they are left in a simple den.
By five-six months old, usually around late December, the young are completely weaned and able to become independent and disperse from their natal range and out into the bush. Tasmanian devils probably become sexually mature and start breeding at the end of their second year.
• Image | © Zweer de Bruin, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (Boyce, 2018; Fahey & Kinder, 2001; Nowak, 1999; Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, April 2018)
