Tasmanian devils once roamed northwestern Australia with humans

Researchers discovered fossils in Juukan Gorge, Australia, proving Tasmanian devils lived in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as recently as 45,000 years ago.

The team, including paleontologist Timothy Churchill and representatives from the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, examined remains from the Juukan 2 rock shelter, a site with evidence of human life stretching back 46,000 years. They found a Tasmanian devil jaw bone fragment and a tooth fragment dating to between 6,900 and 47,100 years old.

The scientists determined the devils likely acted as scavengers, consuming leftovers from the hunter-gatherer communities that inhabited the caves. Examination of over 8,000 animal bones revealed more than 1,000 bore marks from chewing and gnawing, with at least ten showing patterns consistent with Tasmanian devil teeth. Researchers also analyzed 263 digested bone fragments, finding some were too large for smaller local carnivores and matched the digestive patterns of Tasmanian devils.

This discovery expands the known historical range of Tasmanian devils, which today are primarily found on the island of Tasmania. The findings suggest that the devils once played a role in keeping human settlements clean, reducing the risk of disease by consuming carrion. Competition with dingoes eventually led to the species’ decline on the Australian mainland, limiting them to the island state.