Fauna Journal Entry

Chemicals Found in Tasmanian Devils (February 25, 2008)

In recent years, Tasmaniam devils have been hit hard by a deadly type of face cancer. The marsupials, found only on the island of Tasmania off the southern coast of Australia, are struggling to avoid extinction. About 90 percent of the population has been wiped out since the cancer hit in the mid-1990s.

Researchers recently found toxic flame-retardant chemicals in their remains. They say there's evidence linking these chemicals to the cancer, although more research needs to be done to determine the chemicals' role.

The deadly cancer starts as sores around the mouth. Tumors form on the face then spread throughout the body. The marsupials get the disease from contact with other members of their colony, mostly from fighting or mating.

Tasmanian devils once roamed far and wide across mainland Australia. They disappeared after dingoes, wild dogs introduced by Aborigines, squeezed them out. Because the devils were so isolated on Tasmania, their gene pool grew less and less diverse over many centuries. This lack of genetic variety likely hurt their immunity and put them at greater risk to disease.

The Tasmanian devil gets its name from its eerie screech, dark color, and reputation for bad temper. Although only the size of a small dog, the animal can look and sound scary.