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Tasmanian Devils in the eastern half of Tasmania have, since the 1990s, developed Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). It is a fatal condition which causes cancers around the face and head of Tasmanian Devils. It first appears as small lesions and lumps around the animal's mouth which grow quite quickly, inhibiting the Devil's ability to feed. They slowly starve to death, whilst their their bodily functions gradually break down. It spreads from animal to animal through them biting each other, and given that this is natural behaviour for Devils, it means that the disease can quickly spread through a population.
Very recently (early 2010), a group of international scientists have pinpointed the cellular origins of the disease. This breakthrough gives scientists the best chance they have for developing a cure for a disease that could quite conceivably cause the extinction of Tasmanian Devils in the wild.
For more information on this cure, see the related link.
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∙ 14y ago
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Can Tasmanian devils get sick?
Tasmanian devils can certainly get sick. Tasmanian Devils are threatened by a fatal form of cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) which is transmitted between Tasmanian devils by biting.
Are Tasmanian devils placental?
No. Tasmanian devils are marsupials.
Do Tasmanian devils Live in packs?
No. Tasmanian devils tend to be solitary animals.
Do Tasmanian devils breed?
Of course Tasmanian devils breed. If they didn't, there would be no Tasmanian devils left today. Tasmanian devils are mammals, which are vertebrates. All vertebrates breed.
Are Tasmanian devils amphibians or marsupials?
Tasmanian devils are marsupials of Australia.
Why do Tasmanian devils attack humans?
Tasmanian devils do not attack humans.
Can Tasmanian devils be hunted?
Tasmanian devils may not be hunted. They are protected by law.
Do Tasmanian devils have a tail?
Yes. Tasmanian devils have short, stumpy tails.
Are Tasmanian devils used for sports?
No. Tasmanian devils are certainly not used for sports.
Can Tasmanian devils blink their eyes?
Yes, Tasmanian devils can blink their eyes.
Are Tasmanian devils vertebrate or invertebrates?
Tasmanian devils are mammals hence vertebrates .
Are there any female Tasmanian Devils?
Of course. If there were no female Tasmanian devils, they could not reproduce. Tasmanian devils may be endangered, but they are also a viable species.
