Tasmanian Devil: The secret behind the name of this squirrel-sized mammal  

We are surrounded by innumerable strange animals. While some are known, countless creatures are still hidden from the eyes of humanity. One such example from the animal kingdom is the Tasmanian Devil, a mammal belonging to a group called marsupials. Marsupials are a group of mammals characterised by the premature birth of their offspring. After birth, the newborn continues to develop while attached to the mother's lower belly. Some other examples of marsupials include koalas, kangaroos and wombats. These are the larger species. An example of smaller species of marsupial is the Tasmanian Devil.  

A nocturnal creature with a small stature 
The name sounds scary, right? Well, Tasmanian Devil is a carnivore (eats flesh) that grows merely 20 to 30 inches in size and weighs around 9 to 26 pounds. Despite its small stature, the Tasmanian Devil is the world's largest carnivorous (flesh-eating) marsupial!  

Tasmanian devils are nocturnal by nature and prefer solitude. They stay in their burrows or hollow wooden logs and come out at night to feed. They can eat anything they find, including the hair, bones and organs of an animal.  

A devil from Tasmania!  
Are you wondering how this squirrel-sized mammal earned the name Tasmanian Devil? Well, there are good reasons behind this nomenclature. The only native habitat of this mammal is a small island state in Australia called Tasmania. With a bear-like appearance, a thick black fur coat, gaping jaws, strong and sharp teeth, and to boot, a bad temper and husky snarl, these scavengers feed on dead sheep and road kills. Not just this, the powerful jaws of the Tasmanian Devil can deliver the most powerful bites possible for a mammal. When threatened by a predator, Tasmanian devils can fly into a range (lunging). The early European settlers called them devils because of the teeth-bearing, lunging, and chilling guttural sounds they produce. 

Fighting extinction 
In 1996, the number of Tasmanian devils living on the island was more than 150,000. However, from 1996 to 2007, this number declined by more than 50 per cent. This is largely because of a threatening form of cancer called the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). It used to lead to large and deadly tumours on the head and mouth of Tasmanian Devils. Scientists are trying to save the Tasmanian Devil from extinction through various breeding programmes and establishments. The Tasmanian Government even declared the Tasmanian Devil an endangered species in 2008. So, the devils are fighting for survival and we hope they do! There seems to be some hope for them. Menna Jones, an expert from Tasmania University, observed that some devils were adapting to the deadly tumours of DFTD that were killing them all. That’s good news for sure!