What it is
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a stocky, black furred marsupial the size of a small dog, often with white marks on the chest and rump. Its massive head and strong jaws let it crush bones. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as Endangered.
Range
Forests, woodlands and farmland across the island of Tasmania, Australia.
What happened
Devils hunt small animals but mostly feed on carcasses, and several may gather noisily at one meal. They vanished from mainland Australia long ago and survived only on Tasmania.
When / status
Endangered now, after a fast decline in recent decades.
Human role
A contagious facial cancer has killed most devils, and road deaths and the loss of bushland add to the toll.