Why do Tasmanian devils scream?
Quick answer from Eartha
Tasmanian devils screech and screech to sort out who gets to eat first, not because they're truly angry. When several devils crowd around the same food at once, they growl, scream, and snap to show off how tough they are. It looks scary, but it's mostly noisy bluffing that helps them share food without too much real fighting.
The longer story
Tasmanian devils are the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, and they are mostly found today only on the island of Tasmania. Despite their fierce reputation, they are actually quite shy around humans.
Devils often feed in groups on a shared carcass, which can get crowded and tense. Their loud, spine-chilling screeches are a way of negotiating who eats first without every meal turning into a real fight.
These sounds are also paired with wide, threatening yawns that show off their sharp teeth and strong jaws. A devil's bite is powerful enough to crunch through bone, which helps it eat almost every part of its food.
Sadly, a contagious facial tumour disease has caused Tasmanian devil numbers to drop sharply since the 1990s, and conservation programs are working hard to protect the species.
Try this at home: sound-sorting game
- Think of three different sounds you could make, like a growl, a squeak, and a hiss.
- Take turns making the sounds and guessing what feeling each one might show, such as warning or fear.
- Talk about how animals can use sound to communicate without words.
Words to know
- Marsupial
- A mammal that usually carries its young in a pouch.
- Carcass
- The body of a dead animal, sometimes eaten by other animals.
For grown-ups: what is my child learning here?
Age band: Ages 7-11
Curriculum link: Australian Curriculum v9 Science, Year 4 — living things depend on and interact with each other and their environment to survive.
The concept: Children learn that animal sounds and displays can manage social situations like sharing food.
More classroom ideas are on our teachers page, and safety notes for families are on for parents.
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