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BookReviews Tasmanian Devil: a Unique and Threatened Animal DAVIDOWENAND by David Owen and DavidPemberton DAVIDPEMBERTON Publisher:AllenandUnwin, StLeonards, NewSouth Wales, 2005, 225pages, hard- back;ISBNJ741143683. RRP$35.00 Tasmanian Devils are fascinating TASMANIAN creatures. They became Australia’s largest carnivorous marsupials following extinction A JNIQUEANDTHREATENEDANIMAL l oftheThylacine. Theyremindmeofmyself DEVIL - shy, nocturnal, a spicy attitude when required and the ability to eat almost any- thing! The Tasmanian Devil has endured much prejudice, misunderstanding and per- secution over the past 200 years, being labelled 'Beelzebub's pup’ and, along with the Thylacine, considered responsible for destruction oflivestock. However, 80 years you know- that Tasmanian Devils have ofbounty records collected by Eric Guiler remainedrelatively unchangedinbothshape showedthattherealculpritswerepoorman- and size for about 70000 years? Orthat an agementdecisions andpractices, along with adultTasmanian Devil can eatupto40%of packs offeral dogs. This did not stop the its body weight in one meal? It also is con- persecutionoftheTasmanian Devils,asthey cerning to learn that DFTD has killed at were seen to be the bane ofsheep farmers, leastathirdoftheTasmanianDevils. and theirperceived notoriety was the inspi- The authors have made use ofthe many ration forthe famousWarner Brothers’ car- publications and insights by past and pre- toon character, Taz. Recently the Devils sent researchers, ensuring the book is a have once more come under attack, not by valuable resource for current and potential humans, but by the deadly Devil Facial researchers and for anyone with an interest Tumour Disease (DFTD), mutilating the in these beautiful creatures. Throughout the faces ofhundreds ofDevils and posing the book there are also many eyewitness threatofextinction forthespecies. accounts, dating from the early 19lhcentury. Tasmanian Devil: a Uniqueand Threat- These provide humour, horror and a sense enedAnimal summarises the life and times ofdisbelief, making the book a thoroughly ofthe Tasmanian Devil accurately and con- interestingandentertainingread. cisely. It covers the history ofthe Devil, Thelayoutofthebook issimilartothatof from the evolution and radiation ofthe David Owen’s book, Thylacine: The tragic dasyuridfamilyin Australia,therelationship taleofthe Tasmanian Tiger, with extensive of the Devil with the new settlers of black and white photographs and drawings Tasmania and the current threat ofDFTD. throughout the book as well as eightpages Although the inclusion ofsome chapters is ofcolour plates at the centre. Overall this questionable(e.g. thesupposedlinkbetween book has been the most enjoyable, under- Errol Flynn and the development ofTaz by standable text I have read regarding Warner Bros) every chapter covers an Tasmanian Devils. 1 recommend this book importantpartoftheTasmanian Devil’shis- to anyone with an interest in Tasmanian tory in detail. The particularly interesting DevilsorTasmanian history. sections arethechaptersfocusingonthe life history and ecology ofthe Devil, which Sarah Bouma leave the reader thoroughly informed. Did POBox708 Lilydale,Victoria3140 Vol. 123 (5) 2006 341