Tasmanian devils are as intriguing as they are unique. These marsupials are only found on the island state of Tasmania, a part of Australia. Why the “fiery” name and reputation for something the size of a small dog? Tasmanian devils use spirited behaviors to communicate and thrive. They make eerie growls while searching for food at night. Their oversized head, neck, and jaws are well suited to crushing bones. And when a group of devils feeds together at a carcass, loud screeching and spine-chilling screams can be heard. These actions may seem unusual to us, but they have a different meaning in devil society: 

A mouth that opens quite wide—While the famous gape, or yawn, of the Tasmanian devil looks threatening, it is more likely to express fear and uncertainty than aggression.

A foul odor—This is produced under stress, not when the devil is calm and relaxed.

Fierce snarls and high-pitched screams—These are used to establish dominance at feeding time around a carcass.

A strong sneeze—No, they aren’t catching a cold! Instead, the sneeze may come before a fight between devils. These are mostly spectacular bluff behaviors, all part of a ritual to lessen any real fighting that may lead to serious injuries. After a nose-to-nose confrontation—during which their ears flush red!—one or both usually back down.