Page 28 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

DANGEROUS PREDATORS

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With bone-crushing jaws, voracious appetites and

merciless hunting tactics, these four animals are the

deadliest predators in Australia

Words Laura Mears
Thylacine

These extinct
assassins used

© Getty surprise strikes

Until 7 September, 1936, thylacines
were some of Australia’s deadliest
carnivores. They were ambush
predators with a set of 46 razor-
sharp teeth. Though they looked
a bit like dogs, they hunted more
like cats, coming out alone at night
to stalk bandicoots and possums.
Thylacines had relatively weak jaws,
but their tiger-like elbow bones
allowed them to
THYLACINE turn their front
Thylacinus cynocephalus legs over. This
Lifespan 5-7 years neat trick probably
Adult weight 30kg (66lbs)
Conservation status helped them to
keep a tight grip on
surprised prey.
EXTINCT

Tasmanian

devil

Their hair-raising scream is
a deadly warning

Tasmanian devils are the largest and
deadliest marsupials on the planet. They
come out under cover of darkness, stalking
through the undergrowth in search of
food. They grip hold of their prey with
sharp claws before delivering a piercing
bite to the skull, neck or chest. A devil © Getty
can take on up to 40%
of its body weight in one TASMANIAN DEVIL
sitting, and they eat almost Sarcophilus harrisii
Lifespan 5 years
everything, from muscle and Adult weight 14kg (31lbs)
fat to organs and bones. All Conservation status
that remains at the end of a
devil feast is the skin, skull
ENDANGERED
and pelvis.

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