Animals of Tasmania

The Tasmanian Tiger, also called the Tasmanian Wolf, is a large marsupial native to Tasmania. Most scientists believe it to be extinct, however each year there are about a dozen unconfirmed sightings in remote areas of the state, and several reported sets of Tiger tracks. In January 1995, a Parks and Wildlife Service officer observed a Tiger in the Pyengana region of eastern Tasmania, and being the most reliable sighting in some time, the government launched an investigation to possibly confirm the existence of the Tiger.
The Tiger was about 5 feet (1.5 m) long, and had light brown fur with dark stripes across its lower back. The last photo of a Tasmanian Tiger was taken at Hobart Zoo in 1933. Tigers were common toward the start of the century but were hunted extensively because they threatened sheep. Tiger skins and a preserved Tiger can be seen at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart. Footage of Tasmanian Tigers can be viewed at the Tasmanian Devil Park in Taranna (near Port Arthur).
Tasmanian Tigers are also known as thylacines after their Latin name, Thylacinus cynocephalus.

Wallabies

Wallabies are marsupials which, at first glance, look exactly like small kangaroos. They are found in all states of Australia and in Papua New Guinea. Like kangaroos, they carry their young ('Joey's') in a pouch, have a strong tail and hind legs, and smaller front paws used for foraging. They feed off seeds and grasses.
Wallabies are well suited to the bushy highlands of Tasmania, and are very common in some areas (especially on the roads). As Tasmania does not have the flat, open spaces of mainland Australia, the kangaroos are nowhere near as plentiful as wallabies. The most common type of wallaby in Tasmania is the red-necked wallaby or Bennett's Wallaby, which is also found in other south-eastern states. Wild wallabies in populated bush areas such as Coles Bay are quite friendly toward humans and can often be hand-fed.

Possums

Possums are Australian marsupials not to be confused with opossums found in the Americas. Possums vary in appearance from small rat-like pygmies to squirrel-like sugar gliders and larger varieties which may grow larger than a domestic cat.
It is these larger possums which are most common in Tasmania. Golden possums are native to Tasmania and are very rare. Ring tailed possums have tails similar to monkeys which taper off to a point and can be used to hold on to tree branches. Brush tailed possums have long fluffy tails a little like, say, a fox.
Possums are nocturnal and eat small plants and flowers, and sometimes insects. Brush tailed possums are common in most Tasmanian bushlands and in the suburbs of Tasmanian cities. They frequently venture into gardens in search of food, especially from fruit trees and roses. Possums, especially in suburbs, are often regarded as annoyances because of their destruction of gardens and chewing through of electricity lines. However, as they are a protected species, they continue to grow in number.
Possums are sometimes mistaken for intruders. They tend to scrabble round on roofs and make a noise similar to a human cough. Enemies of possums include domestic dogs and cats.

Tasmanian Devil

The devil is nocturnal and was named by early European settlers because of its eerie growl, which starts as a kind of whistle and ends in a bark.
Devils grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) in length excluding tail, and are known for their foul tempers. They generally scavenge on dead animals of all kinds, but may eat other small mammals or reptiles. Tasmanian Devils have some of the strongest jaws of any animal, and generally eat the entirety of their prey. One time a family of Devils were found to have eaten a horse and left only the skull and tail.
While the real devil may sound a little like the cartoon version, be assured that they walk on all four legs and do not spin around like a tornado!
They used to exist on the mainland too, but were extinct there by the dingo.

Note: Some of the above is taken from the Tour of Tasmania web site.