The pouches of some genera become conspicuous only during the breeding season. Females have 2-12 mammae, the usual number being 6 or 8. The basic pattern of the dasyurid dentition resembles that of Didelphis . The incisors are small, pointed, or bladelike, and the canines are well developed and large, with a sharp cutting edge. The molars have three sharp cusps.
Dasyurids have acute senses and are considered alert and intelligent.
They are active animals and move rapidly. The usual shelter is a hollow log, a hole in the ground, or a cave. The mouselike forms are usually silent, but the Tasmanian devil growls and screeches loudly. Dasyurids are active mainly at night and prey upon almost any living thing that they can overpower. The Johns Hopkins University Press.