WHAT animal do Errol Flynn, Tasmania and Warner Bros have in common? Movie buffs are more likely to know than biologists, unless they come from Australia. The answer is Sarcophilus harrisii, commonly known as the Tasmanian devil, the largest surviving meat-eating marsupial. The intriguing story of its Hollywood connections makes for excellent reading, and the book reveals the true nature of this misunderstood creature. Despite its fearsome reputation, the “devil” weighs no more than 11 kilograms, and its survival is threatened by a virulent cancer.
Tasmanian Devil
Natural History Museum
