Fauna Flora and fauna of Tasmania

photograph of pair of captive thylacines (tasmanian tigers) @ national zoo in washington, d.c., circa 1906.

the island of tasmania home thylacine, marsupial resembled wild dog. known colloquially tasmanian tiger distinctive striping across back, became extinct in mainland australia 4,000 years ago because of competition introduced dingo. owing persecution farmers, government-funded bounty hunters and, in final years, collectors overseas museums, appears have been exterminated in tasmania.

the thylacine largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. thylacine 1 of 2 marsupials have pouch in both sexes (the other water opossum). male thylacine had pouch acted protective sheath, protecting male s external reproductive organs while running through thick brush. last known animal died in captivity in 1936. many alleged sightings have since been recorded, none of them confirmed. mature thylacine ranged 100 130 cm (39 51 in) long, plus tail of around 50 65 cm (20 26 in). largest measured specimen 290 cm (9.5 ft) nose tail. adults stood 60 cm (24 in) @ shoulder , weighed 20 30 kg (40 70 lb). there slight sexual dimorphism males being larger females on average.

tasmanian devil


a tasmanian devil

the tasmanian devil carnivorous marsupial found on island of tasmania. occurred on mainland australia thousands of years ago. size of small dog stocky , muscular, tasmanian devil characterised black fur white patches. has loud , disturbing screech-like growl, possesses vicious temperament , predominantly scavenger. tasmanian devil survived european settlement , considered widespread , common throughout tasmania until recently. lot of wildlife, fast vehicles on roads problem tasmanian devils, killed while feeding on other road-killed animals such wallabies. eat including bone.

as of 2005, tasmanian devil population has been reduced 80% in parts of tasmania devil facial tumour disease, gradually spreading throughout island. believed majority starved when tumours spread mouths, , tumours spread fighting between devils on carcasses feed on—typically, fighting devils bite 1 s faces.

there no known cure disease, , intensive research underway determine cause. there captive breeding program being undertaken tasmanian government establish disease-free, genetically diverse population of tasmanian devils outside tasmania. has been relatively successful far.

birds



the tasmanian nativehen.

many birds of australian mainland , surrounding oceans found in tasmania. tasmania has 12 endemic bird species:

4 honeyeaters (family meliphagidae) – yellow wattlebird (world s largest honeyeater) , yellow-throated, black-headed , strong-billed honeyeaters
3 australo-papuan warblers (family acanthizidae) – tasmanian thornbill, scrubtit , tasmanian scrubwren
1 pardalote (family pardalotidae) – endangered forty-spotted pardalote
1 australo-papuan robin (family petroicidae) – dusky robin
1 cracticine (family artamidae) – black currawong
1 parrot (family psittaculidae) – green rosella
1 rail (family rallidae) – tasmanian nativehen, australia s flightless land bird other giant ratites (emu , southern cassowary).

the endemic tasmanian emu exterminated in mid-19th century. tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle threatened endemic subspecies.

frogs



the brown tree frog found in tasmania

tasmania home 11 species of frog. 3 of these found in tasmania, tasmanian tree frog (litoria burrowsae), tasmanian froglet (crinia tasmaniensis) , discovered moss froglet (bryobatrachus nimbus). of 11 species inhabit tasmania endemic australia. tasmania home largest breeding population of growling grass frogs (litoria raniformis), vulnerable species, has declined on of range.

european red fox

on 20 june 2001, tasmania formed fox task force, fox eradication branch, eliminate european red fox. officials planned spend a$50 million on eradication campaign, has since been reduced. no foxes have been captured, poisoned or photographed certainty in island state, although 4 carcasses have been recovered. of these, 1 claimed shot, , other 3 presumed road-kills.the lack of abundance of foxes, through low population densities, , fox-poisoning campaigns, has resulted in abundance of denial of fox presence tasmanian community. established foxes in tasmania devastate native mammals, livestock, ground-nesting birds , native rodents. experts estimate there fewer 30 million foxes on mainland australia, having been introduced european settlers.

since white settlement, 28 native mammal species or subspecies have become extinct australian mainland, worst rate of continental extinction in world. red foxes known significant contributing factor this. mainland extinctions or near-extinctions include eastern barred bandicoot, eastern quoll, , tasmanian pademelon (thylogale billardierii); still common in tasmania. member of upper house, legislative council member windermere ivan dean mlc has been publicly critical of fox evidence used obtain funding taxpayer funded fox eradication branch of tasmanian d.p.i.p.w.e.. former tasmanian police commander dean led police investigation alleged importation , release of foxes tasmania. investigation did not uncover evidence of illegal importation. raised tasmanian fox issue in tasmanian parliament on 17 april 2007.

in addition 4 carcasses, on 40 independently tested fox-dna-confirmed scats have been located across tasmania. through government review, foxes confirmed in tasmania. prominent tasmanians including dr david obendorf have been calling federal police investigation allegations evidence has been planted , part of elaborate hoax receive funding commonwealth.