What is unusual about a Tasmanian devil's ears?

Answer 1

There are several things which are unique about the Tasmanian Devil.

• The Tasmanian Devil is Australia's (and the world's) largest living carnivorous marsupial, or dasyurid.
• It may give birth to over twenty young joeys in a single birthing, but only four of these can survive as the female Tasmanian Devil has only four teats in her pouch.
• Tasmanian Devils play an important role in helping to clean up the environment, by feeding on carrion, meaning dead animals and roadkill.
• The Tasmanian Devil is now found only in Tasmania, although it used to be found all over the Australian continent.
• When threatened, the Tasmanian Devil can release a powerful and repulsive scent.
• It earned its name by the frightening and bloodcurdling screams it makes in the night when guarding its food against being taken by other Tasmanian Devils.
• This creature is threatened by the Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a fatal condition which causes cancers around the animal's face and head. It first appears as small lesions and lumps around the animal's mouth which grow quite quickly, inhibiting the Devil's ability to feed. The animal slowly starves to death, whilst their bodily functions gradually break down. It spreads from animal to animal through them biting each other, and given that this is natural behaviour for Devils, it means that the disease can quickly spread through a population.

Answer 2

A Tasmanian devil usually has ears which are pink in colour. When Tasmanian devils are angry or under stress, their ears turn red.