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

Abstract

The Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisi(Boitard), once widespread on continental Australia, 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 change before white mall's appearances. Recent reports of wild devils on the continent must be regarded as very doubtful. Devils now are widespread and numerous in Tasmania and have suffered at least one major population cycle since white occupation. The species appears to live we11 in competition with man.