What do you think?
Rate this book
Tasmanian Devil: A Unique and Threatened Animal
Fascinating new insights into the famous Australian marsupial
Packed with information that has only been published in scientific journals, if ever at all, this collection of biological facts challenges the misconceptions associated with Australia's most famous marsupial. Far from being a scavenging, ferocious oddity, an image perpetuated by the infamous cartoon character, the Tasmanian Devil is actually a treasured and valuable wildlife species facing extinction. By sharing the surprising, controversial, funny, and tragic history behind the world's largest marsupial carnivore, this new guidebook covers all aspects of the biology and the habitat of the Tasmanian Devil.
Packed with information that has only been published in scientific journals, if ever at all, this collection of biological facts challenges the misconceptions associated with Australia's most famous marsupial. Far from being a scavenging, ferocious oddity, an image perpetuated by the infamous cartoon character, the Tasmanian Devil is actually a treasured and valuable wildlife species facing extinction. By sharing the surprising, controversial, funny, and tragic history behind the world's largest marsupial carnivore, this new guidebook covers all aspects of the biology and the habitat of the Tasmanian Devil.
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
10 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
David Owen
20 books16 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
David Owen was born in Zimbabwe in 1956 and grew up in Malawi and Swaziland. He completed his education in South Africa and then spent some years working in London. He migrated to Australia in 1986. A past editor of Island magazine, he writes fiction and nonfiction. He is now settled in Tasmania.
David Owen was born in Zimbabwe in 1956 and grew up in Malawi and Swaziland. He completed his education in South Africa and then spent some years working in London. He migrated to Australia in 1986. A past editor of Island magazine, he writes fiction and nonfiction. He is now settled in Tasmania.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 7, 2024
Allen & Unwin do a whole series of these books on iconic Australian animals, and if they're all as good as this one it must be an impressive collection. This is really a model of how this kind of thing should be done: comprehensive, authoritative, and excellently written. The two authors are experts in the field (Owen works for the Tasmanian government, and Pemberton is the former head of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program) and – a rare thing! – also know how to string a sentence together.
Baby devils
The resulting book comprises evolutionary history, comparative morphology, long extracts from early naturalists and explorers, and a good update on the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease which decimated devil numbers some years back. One of the most interesting chapters is about the legal wrangles with Warner Bros., whose iconic Taz character, it was once hoped, could be used by the island's tourism industry. But Hollywood copyright infringement teams scotched that idea, even to the extent of prosecuting a small Hobart fishing-lure company for selling a product called the Tasmanian Devil. (The fishing company eventually won an exemption after eight years of legal wrangling.)
One of the most important early biologists to describe the devil was a Professor T.T. Flynn, whose son, Errol, later became one of the most famous swashbuckling actors of the '50s – in the Warner Bros. stable, no less. There's some indication that Errol Flynn's wild personality was an inspiration for Taz.
I spent a happy afternoon at the so-called devil ‘unzoo’ on the Tasman Peninsula watching these curious marsupials either dozing or ripping hunks of wallaby to pieces, and there is something very iconic about them, and about the strange coughing growls that they make. Easy to imagine how the noises must have terrified early settlers at night, particularly since they were unknown from the mainland. A few thousand years ago, there were devils all over mainland Australia too; now it's just another unique thing that Tasmania needs to celebrate and watch after. This book is a great contribution.
Baby devils
The resulting book comprises evolutionary history, comparative morphology, long extracts from early naturalists and explorers, and a good update on the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease which decimated devil numbers some years back. One of the most interesting chapters is about the legal wrangles with Warner Bros., whose iconic Taz character, it was once hoped, could be used by the island's tourism industry. But Hollywood copyright infringement teams scotched that idea, even to the extent of prosecuting a small Hobart fishing-lure company for selling a product called the Tasmanian Devil. (The fishing company eventually won an exemption after eight years of legal wrangling.)
One of the most important early biologists to describe the devil was a Professor T.T. Flynn, whose son, Errol, later became one of the most famous swashbuckling actors of the '50s – in the Warner Bros. stable, no less. There's some indication that Errol Flynn's wild personality was an inspiration for Taz.
I spent a happy afternoon at the so-called devil ‘unzoo’ on the Tasman Peninsula watching these curious marsupials either dozing or ripping hunks of wallaby to pieces, and there is something very iconic about them, and about the strange coughing growls that they make. Easy to imagine how the noises must have terrified early settlers at night, particularly since they were unknown from the mainland. A few thousand years ago, there were devils all over mainland Australia too; now it's just another unique thing that Tasmania needs to celebrate and watch after. This book is a great contribution.
October 21, 2020
One of the absolute best written books on Australian natural history I have ever read. Absolutely outstanding. The depth of research is apparent however the reading style is easy and flows beautifully. An absolute must for any animal lover.
March 3, 2024
A very informative book about this beautiful and endangered animal, but I didn't rate the photos which lacked finesse and were often quite graphic.
April 7, 2025
Tasmanian devils are the largest ground dwelling marsupial predator, now that the thylacine is extinct. They are opportunistic feeders, eating a variety of foods including live prey and carrion, both vertebrate and invertebrate.
Their famed jaw strength is equivalent to that of a dog four times their size, or, for their body mass, more powerful than a tiger’s. Devils can eat up to forty percent of their body weight in a single feeding session.
Devils show great stamina when foraging, moving at speeds of greater than 10 kmh for extended periods through the night.
While they can be aggressive, they are often timid. Devils do not make good pets. Even little ones have formidably sharp teeth and vice-like jaws. "Above all, once weaned they become asocial, which is surely why Aborigines, who quickly took to dogs after European settlement, did not keep them as pets."
Apart from during the mating season and occasionally while feeding, devils do not engage in combat with one another. This is why, even though solitary, they are able to live together in high densities and share overlapping home ranges.
Most of the time, the females dominate the males but when breeding the male becomes aggressive, imprisoning the female in a den for a few days to prevent access of other males. Favoured dens are strongly protected and may have existed for centuries.
While both the thylacine and quoll trace back at least 25 million years, the devil is much more recent with relationships to the thylacine and the quoll. A larger devil, Sarcophilus laniarius was present between 70 000 and 50 000 years ago and was about 15 per cent larger than a modern devil.
The devil survived in mainland Australia as recently as 500 years ago. Although the introduction of dingoes some 6000 years ago is generally considered to have marked the beginning of their end, changing climate was likely a large factor. Devils thrive in temperate, forested Tasmania.
A 7000 year old human male skeleton was discovered wearing a necklace of 178 pierced Tasmanian devil teeth, collected from at least 47 animals, suggesting that the devil had symbolic importance to early people.
The authors compare the devil with the wolverine, ratel (honey badger) and the hyena, all of which are mid-sized predators.
The authors present what was known about Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), which started to show up n the 1990's. In the twenty years since the book was written DFTD has been much better understood as having developed in devils. Many populations are unaffected and a population of disease-free devils has been created and expanded.
Their famed jaw strength is equivalent to that of a dog four times their size, or, for their body mass, more powerful than a tiger’s. Devils can eat up to forty percent of their body weight in a single feeding session.
Devils show great stamina when foraging, moving at speeds of greater than 10 kmh for extended periods through the night.
While they can be aggressive, they are often timid. Devils do not make good pets. Even little ones have formidably sharp teeth and vice-like jaws. "Above all, once weaned they become asocial, which is surely why Aborigines, who quickly took to dogs after European settlement, did not keep them as pets."
Apart from during the mating season and occasionally while feeding, devils do not engage in combat with one another. This is why, even though solitary, they are able to live together in high densities and share overlapping home ranges.
Most of the time, the females dominate the males but when breeding the male becomes aggressive, imprisoning the female in a den for a few days to prevent access of other males. Favoured dens are strongly protected and may have existed for centuries.
While both the thylacine and quoll trace back at least 25 million years, the devil is much more recent with relationships to the thylacine and the quoll. A larger devil, Sarcophilus laniarius was present between 70 000 and 50 000 years ago and was about 15 per cent larger than a modern devil.
The devil survived in mainland Australia as recently as 500 years ago. Although the introduction of dingoes some 6000 years ago is generally considered to have marked the beginning of their end, changing climate was likely a large factor. Devils thrive in temperate, forested Tasmania.
A 7000 year old human male skeleton was discovered wearing a necklace of 178 pierced Tasmanian devil teeth, collected from at least 47 animals, suggesting that the devil had symbolic importance to early people.
The authors compare the devil with the wolverine, ratel (honey badger) and the hyena, all of which are mid-sized predators.
The authors present what was known about Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), which started to show up n the 1990's. In the twenty years since the book was written DFTD has been much better understood as having developed in devils. Many populations are unaffected and a population of disease-free devils has been created and expanded.
August 9, 2016
_Tasmanian Devil_ by David Owen and David Pemberton is a well-illustrated and researched overview of the natural and human history of the largest living marsupial carnivore.
After the introduction the first chapters of the book focus on the animal's natural history, the authors taking care to dispel popularly held myths about the animal. Devils are opportunistic feeders, eating live prey and carrion as well as invertebrates, fruit, and vegetation. A solitary hunter, they aren't fast enough to chase down wallabies or rabbits but do go after wombats (though some researchers have reported that they can chase prey at about 12 kilometers per hour for short bursts). They have tremendous jaw strength and powerful teeth that enable them to consume gristle, skin, and shatter bones (the equivalent of a dog four times their size or for their body mass more powerful than a tiger's).
Though usually solitary, devils feed communally on particularly large carcasses. Often described as being some sort of free-for-all with lots of screaming and apparent fighting, devils in fact have elaborate vocalizations and postures to maintain order and some speculate that just as the sight of daylight-circling vultures attracts other vultures the noises devils make may serve to alert other devils in the area to a large food source. The first arrival is the dominant feeder, making way for a challenger once it has gorged itself, the feeder defending only the amount of food it needs, not the entire carcass. Devils will generally seek to take what they can and hide with their share, consuming it in peace.
Though maligned by ranchers, the devils are the "great hygienists" of the Tasmanian bush. They consume dead and dying livestock and have been credited with breaking the sheep tapeworm cycle and keeping down blowfly populations.
Another social trait of devils is that of the communal latrine. Though most of the time devils are solitary animals, depending upon population size, dozens of devils will defecate in one area, "for reasons of communication barely understood, and further calling into question the "solitary" tag."
Interestingly, hyenas and ratels (or honey badgers), two species presented as examples of convergent evolution with devils, also use communal latrines. The authors go on to compare interesting examples of convergence with wolverines as well, looking at sense of smell, skull structure, markings (both devils and wolverines have white neck and throat patches), body posture, locomotion, and diet.
The evolution and fossil record of the Tasmanian devil are discussed also. The famous Riversleigh fossils site of northwestern Queensland has a species that is 15% larger than a modern devil with a 50% greater body mass. Scientists have speculated whether the modern devil is a dwarfed version of this species or if it coexisted with the larger extinct version. Some believe that several different-sized devils occupied a range of predator-scavenger niches. Devils apparently went extinct on the mainland as recently as 500 years ago for reasons unknown, though climatic issues and the introduction of the dingo are most often blamed.
The authors go into detail about the history of the study of these animals. The animal was known only to the island's 4000 indigenous inhabitants up until 1803, when Europeans started to settle what was then known as Van Diemen's Land. George Prideaux Harris was the first to scientifically describe the devil (in 1806). Other important figures are Louisa Anne Meredith who in late 19th century/early 20th century bred devils in her private zoo and helped the devils' public image tremendously and Professor Theodore Thomson Flynn, a pioneering 20th century mammalogist.
A chapter of course is spent on the history of the famous Warner Brothers cartoon character Taz. This "whirling, brown, slobbering creature" has vast international recognition, far beyond that of the real animal. Some have speculated that Warner Brothers studios had another Tasmanian in mind when they created the character, Errol Flynn (son of the aforementioned Dr. Flynn), who worked for the studio. Errol Flynn in his autobiography even titled the first chapter "Tasmanian Devil, 1909-1927". It would seem that that was merely coincidence as the authors provide the history of the development of the character (for all his fame only five Taz cartoons were made between 1954 and 1964 until his 1990 resurrection) and of the legal battles involving the character (Warner Brothers had trademarked the name Tasmanian Devil, a fact that has bothered and hampered many Tasmanians' use of their iconic animal in economic matters and in promoting tourism).
From the earliest days Europeans regarded the devil, along with the thylacine, as "stock-destroying vermin" and sought to trap, poison, and shoot them into extinction. Later researchers showed that neither species was to blame for livestock losses on the island (instead one could point at poor management and farming practices as well as packs of feral dogs), but "bush myths" proliferated that they would hunt sheep and even people (though in reality not preying upon healthy sheep and only consuming murder and suicide victims, the devils never having been known to kill anyone).
While enormous strides had been made in protecting devils from persecution, in 1996 Dutch wildlife photographer Christo Baars noted ghastly facial growths on devils he photographed and by 1998 researchers came to realize many areas were experiencing a serious decline in devils thanks to the spread of Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), a virulent facial cancer that kills within five months of its manifestation. Poorly understood, some researchers believed it was a naturally occurring retrovirus, one that perhaps had caused devil population crashes in the past, perhaps triggered by pesticide or fertilizer chemicals or the rabbit-killing calicivirus, while others think it may have jumped species, perhaps from feral cats, to the devils. Attempts to save the devils have been complicated by political infighting over conservation and research funds, difficulty in diagnosis of the disease, and feral cats and foxes filing the emptying devil niche. Attempts to quarantine the devils to small islands have met with numerous obstacles as well.
After the introduction the first chapters of the book focus on the animal's natural history, the authors taking care to dispel popularly held myths about the animal. Devils are opportunistic feeders, eating live prey and carrion as well as invertebrates, fruit, and vegetation. A solitary hunter, they aren't fast enough to chase down wallabies or rabbits but do go after wombats (though some researchers have reported that they can chase prey at about 12 kilometers per hour for short bursts). They have tremendous jaw strength and powerful teeth that enable them to consume gristle, skin, and shatter bones (the equivalent of a dog four times their size or for their body mass more powerful than a tiger's).
Though usually solitary, devils feed communally on particularly large carcasses. Often described as being some sort of free-for-all with lots of screaming and apparent fighting, devils in fact have elaborate vocalizations and postures to maintain order and some speculate that just as the sight of daylight-circling vultures attracts other vultures the noises devils make may serve to alert other devils in the area to a large food source. The first arrival is the dominant feeder, making way for a challenger once it has gorged itself, the feeder defending only the amount of food it needs, not the entire carcass. Devils will generally seek to take what they can and hide with their share, consuming it in peace.
Though maligned by ranchers, the devils are the "great hygienists" of the Tasmanian bush. They consume dead and dying livestock and have been credited with breaking the sheep tapeworm cycle and keeping down blowfly populations.
Another social trait of devils is that of the communal latrine. Though most of the time devils are solitary animals, depending upon population size, dozens of devils will defecate in one area, "for reasons of communication barely understood, and further calling into question the "solitary" tag."
Interestingly, hyenas and ratels (or honey badgers), two species presented as examples of convergent evolution with devils, also use communal latrines. The authors go on to compare interesting examples of convergence with wolverines as well, looking at sense of smell, skull structure, markings (both devils and wolverines have white neck and throat patches), body posture, locomotion, and diet.
The evolution and fossil record of the Tasmanian devil are discussed also. The famous Riversleigh fossils site of northwestern Queensland has a species that is 15% larger than a modern devil with a 50% greater body mass. Scientists have speculated whether the modern devil is a dwarfed version of this species or if it coexisted with the larger extinct version. Some believe that several different-sized devils occupied a range of predator-scavenger niches. Devils apparently went extinct on the mainland as recently as 500 years ago for reasons unknown, though climatic issues and the introduction of the dingo are most often blamed.
The authors go into detail about the history of the study of these animals. The animal was known only to the island's 4000 indigenous inhabitants up until 1803, when Europeans started to settle what was then known as Van Diemen's Land. George Prideaux Harris was the first to scientifically describe the devil (in 1806). Other important figures are Louisa Anne Meredith who in late 19th century/early 20th century bred devils in her private zoo and helped the devils' public image tremendously and Professor Theodore Thomson Flynn, a pioneering 20th century mammalogist.
A chapter of course is spent on the history of the famous Warner Brothers cartoon character Taz. This "whirling, brown, slobbering creature" has vast international recognition, far beyond that of the real animal. Some have speculated that Warner Brothers studios had another Tasmanian in mind when they created the character, Errol Flynn (son of the aforementioned Dr. Flynn), who worked for the studio. Errol Flynn in his autobiography even titled the first chapter "Tasmanian Devil, 1909-1927". It would seem that that was merely coincidence as the authors provide the history of the development of the character (for all his fame only five Taz cartoons were made between 1954 and 1964 until his 1990 resurrection) and of the legal battles involving the character (Warner Brothers had trademarked the name Tasmanian Devil, a fact that has bothered and hampered many Tasmanians' use of their iconic animal in economic matters and in promoting tourism).
From the earliest days Europeans regarded the devil, along with the thylacine, as "stock-destroying vermin" and sought to trap, poison, and shoot them into extinction. Later researchers showed that neither species was to blame for livestock losses on the island (instead one could point at poor management and farming practices as well as packs of feral dogs), but "bush myths" proliferated that they would hunt sheep and even people (though in reality not preying upon healthy sheep and only consuming murder and suicide victims, the devils never having been known to kill anyone).
While enormous strides had been made in protecting devils from persecution, in 1996 Dutch wildlife photographer Christo Baars noted ghastly facial growths on devils he photographed and by 1998 researchers came to realize many areas were experiencing a serious decline in devils thanks to the spread of Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), a virulent facial cancer that kills within five months of its manifestation. Poorly understood, some researchers believed it was a naturally occurring retrovirus, one that perhaps had caused devil population crashes in the past, perhaps triggered by pesticide or fertilizer chemicals or the rabbit-killing calicivirus, while others think it may have jumped species, perhaps from feral cats, to the devils. Attempts to save the devils have been complicated by political infighting over conservation and research funds, difficulty in diagnosis of the disease, and feral cats and foxes filing the emptying devil niche. Attempts to quarantine the devils to small islands have met with numerous obstacles as well.
October 22, 2023
Got it in holiday in Tasmania, and was a great supplement to that holiday. The book itself is really good. It truly is everything you'd ever want to know about devils... Up until about 2005ish. I'd love an updated version. But, still, very thorough and engaging. The last chapter made me cry (tho my wife says I'm just a softy)
June 8, 2019
This was very insightful. I'm even more aware of the Tasmanian Devil as an animal and its history with Australians and their views on the animal from the 1800's onwards.
February 15, 2024
Another engaging read by this author as he is not too scientific in his writings.
March 5, 2024
Very educational and comprehensible exploration on tasmanian devils biology and lore.
If you're interested in learning more about tasmanian devils, this is the best place to start for sure.
If you're interested in learning more about tasmanian devils, this is the best place to start for sure.
May 11, 2025
it succintly explain the tasmanian devil background and current situation, pointing out the challenges to overcome regarding its future due to the DFTD and other threats.
June 12, 2016
I enjoyed reading Tasmanian Devil: A Unique and Threatened Animal more than I enjoyed reading David Owen's
Thylacine: The Tragic Tale of the Tasmanian Tiger
. I felt as though the writing style was a step up (possibly due to co-author David Pemberton?) and the story was less tragic. After reading this, I cannot take any reading that suggests the devil is anything but an adorable badass.
Owen and Pemberton trace the devil's origins and history within Australia, tackling not only how it came to extinction on the mainland and how it survived white settlement in Tasmania when the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) didn't, but also discussing Looney Tunes' Taz and concluding with final chapter dedicated to the tragedy of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
Obviously, it's a great resource on the devil and does much to combat the devil's poor reputation. Plenty of personal stories about the devil allow its character to be glimpsed. Like I said: it's an adorable badass.
As with Owen's Thylacine, Tasmanian Devil: A Unique and Threatened Animal was published in the early 2000s and then reprinted in 2011, without revision. Some things have changed: a disease-free colony has been set up on Maria Island, but more things have stayed the same: the 1080 poison is still being used (at the ZooDoo wildlife park, we were told that they no longer brought roadkill in to feed their devils due to the risk of 1080 poisoning) and primary industry is the government's priority (the federal government plans to allow logging in Tasmania's World Heritage-listed Tarkine Forest).
Apart from the need for some updated information, Tasmanian Devil: A Unique and Threatened Animal is well-worth the read. It's perfect for someone like me who lacks the specialist knowledge. Everything is well-explained and written for a general audience.
Owen and Pemberton trace the devil's origins and history within Australia, tackling not only how it came to extinction on the mainland and how it survived white settlement in Tasmania when the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) didn't, but also discussing Looney Tunes' Taz and concluding with final chapter dedicated to the tragedy of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
Obviously, it's a great resource on the devil and does much to combat the devil's poor reputation. Plenty of personal stories about the devil allow its character to be glimpsed. Like I said: it's an adorable badass.
As with Owen's Thylacine, Tasmanian Devil: A Unique and Threatened Animal was published in the early 2000s and then reprinted in 2011, without revision. Some things have changed: a disease-free colony has been set up on Maria Island, but more things have stayed the same: the 1080 poison is still being used (at the ZooDoo wildlife park, we were told that they no longer brought roadkill in to feed their devils due to the risk of 1080 poisoning) and primary industry is the government's priority (the federal government plans to allow logging in Tasmania's World Heritage-listed Tarkine Forest).
Apart from the need for some updated information, Tasmanian Devil: A Unique and Threatened Animal is well-worth the read. It's perfect for someone like me who lacks the specialist knowledge. Everything is well-explained and written for a general audience.
May 21, 2014
Less theory and more science compared to his book about the thylacine, which makes sense considering the devil is still alive. Neat to learn about Errol Flynn's father's involvement in their survival and the theories behind how Warner Bros. created Taz. Terrible to hear though that they didn't see the value in using Taz to promote Tasmania though because I feel they owe them a little for all the money they've made exploiting one of their native fauna. But that's marketing I guess. Also sad to hear about their facial tumor disease, which I hope doesn't wipe them out.
Read
April 7, 2011The real Tasmanian Devil is similar to its cartoon version from Warner Bros. only in its voracious appetite and shy demeanor. This comprehensive look at the largest extant carnivorous marsupial, Sarcophilus harrisii, takes the reader on a journey from its discovery, through difficult times living near humans, to a current struggle with a devastating new disease (which may lead to endangered species status).
May 22, 2016
The book is, over all, a good read, with interesting information and anecdotal stories.
However, each chapter reads independent from other chapters, more like a text book, and there were long passages of letters to news papers and the like, which felt more like filler to make the book longer than adding any real value to the information presented.
Those are nit picks, and I enjoyed the book very much.
However, each chapter reads independent from other chapters, more like a text book, and there were long passages of letters to news papers and the like, which felt more like filler to make the book longer than adding any real value to the information presented.
Those are nit picks, and I enjoyed the book very much.
June 7, 2011
Interesting read on one of the world's misunderstood creatures.
February 3, 2014
Fascinating creature that I hope is able to bounce back from the rampant facial cancer that's sweeping the island
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews