Temporal and spatial distribution of the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisi (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia)

Abstract

The Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisi(Boitard), once widespread on continentalAustralia, probably became extinct there partly due to food competition with dingoes and,possibly, black man and their extinction may have been expedited by a dry climatic changebefore white mall's appearances. Recent reports of wild devils on the continent must beregarded as very doubtful. Devils now are widespread and numerous in Tasmania and havesuffered at least one major population cycle since white occupation. The species appearsto live we11 in competition with man.