Which endangered marsupial is the largest living carnivorous marsupial?

The Tasmanian devil is the largest living carnivorous marsupial. Its scientific name is Sarcophilus harrisii, and it is native to Tasmania, an island state of Australia.

The devil became the world’s largest surviving marsupial carnivore after the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, disappeared in 1936. Tasmanian devils once lived on mainland Australia too, but vanished there roughly 3,500 years ago. Today, wild populations are confined mainly to Tasmania, although conservation programs have established animals on mainland reserves.

Despite its name, the devil is not a large predator. It is about the size of a small dog, but has a stocky build, powerful jaws, and large teeth suited to crushing bones. It is primarily a scavenger, though it also hunts small animals. A common mix-up is confusing it with the extinct thylacine, which was larger and more dog-like. The devil is endangered, with facial tumor disease having caused severe population declines since the 1990s.