# Do Tasmanian Devils really whirl around like they do in Bugs Bunny cartoons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750 "2007-02-26T18:47:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quentin\_S.Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/43a26b/32.png) [@Quentin\_S.Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quentin_S.Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/1 "2007-02-26T18:47:50Z")
A friend of mine tells me that in real life the Tasmanian devil does whirl around in circles, and this inspired the mini-hurricane Taz seen with Bugs Bunny. True or false? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/2 "2007-02-26T18:57:44Z")
Your friend is putting you on. From [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Devils): > [@](#): > > The Tasmanian Devil is probably best known internationally as the inspiration for the Looney Tunes cartoon character The Tasmanian Devil, or “Taz”. While the cartoon incarnation does resemble a stylized Devil (prominent canines, large head, short legs) the behavioral similarities between the two seem to be limited, consisting mainly of a noisy comportment, voracious appetite, and shy demeanor. Researchers have also named a genetic-mutant mouse “the Tasmanian devil”. The mutant mouse is defective in the development of sensory-hair cells of the ear, leading the mutant to abnormal behaviours including head-tossing and circling,[20] more like the cartoon “Taz” than the actual Tasmanian Devil. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/3 "2007-02-26T19:14:56Z")
No but they sound surprisingly like the cartoon character. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/4 "2007-02-26T19:27:17Z")
The Tazmanian Devils are nothing compared to the Drop Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/5 "2007-02-26T19:29:32Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] The Tazmanian Devils are nothing compared to the Drop Bears. [/QUOTE] \ Yeah, you gotta watch out for those Drop Bears. Twist your head right off, they will. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/6 "2007-02-26T19:46:08Z")
In a commentary on one of the “Looney Tunes Golden Collection” DVDs, there’s a discussion of the origin of the cartoon devil. Warner Brothers was trying to come up with a new opponent for Bugs Bunny. Pretty much every possible character was thrown out for discussion, including pirates, blah, blah, blah, and nothing was working. Finally, Sid Marcus, one of the writers, said “We’ve tried everythng except a Tasmanian Devil”. The writers, who had no real idea what a Tasmanian Devil was, went running for an encyclopedia much like Bugs does in the cartoons, and ran with it. There was never much attempt to portray a real devil, any more than a real Road Runner. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/7 "2007-02-26T20:04:34Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] \ Yeah, you gotta watch out for those Drop Bears. Twist your head right off, they will. [/QUOTE] They’re nothing compared to the Snow Snakes up here. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/8 "2007-02-26T23:05:31Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] They’re nothing compared to the Snow Snakes up here. [/QUOTE] Not to mention the Fur-Bearin’ Trout! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/9 "2007-02-26T23:08:41Z")
[QUOTE=Quentin S. Smith] A friend of mine tells me that in real life the Tasmanian devil does whirl around in circles, and this inspired the mini-hurricane Taz seen with Bugs Bunny. True or false? [/QUOTE] Only after they drink a jug of XXX. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/10 "2007-02-26T23:09:52Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] From [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Devils): [/QUOTE] Hijack: These mice are also called “Punk Rockers” because of their behavior. I guess not everyone is a Taz fan, or wants to prevent some sort of species miscommunication. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/11 "2007-02-26T23:17:50Z")
Of course, neither the Tasmanian Devil nor the Dropbear can hold a candle to the carnivorous mammals of New Zealand, which are both far more aggressively voracious and far more reclusive than those of Australia! Yes, that was a spoof post! But it should be fun to see where it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/12 "2007-02-26T23:33:34Z")
Myself, I live in mortal fear of the Claw Shrimp. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/13 "2007-02-27T00:02:29Z")
[Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUnuZDXMSbo)’s a video of snarling Tasmanian Devils in case anyone thought I was joking about the sound-alike claim. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/14 "2007-02-27T00:17:27Z")
I saw a film on the mating rituals of Tasmanian Devils. Who’d have thunk of having one’s face chewed off as being foreplay. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/15 "2007-02-27T00:22:37Z")
The swirling that the cartoon Tasmanian Devil does is, I believe, based on a [Dust Devil](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_devil). So they combined two different kinds of “Devils” to make up the character. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/16 "2007-02-27T00:37:01Z")
I heard an interview about tasmanian devils on NPR. It seems they have, what was reported as, the only communicable cancer. They bite each other and the cancer is spread, endangering the species. There is supposed to be a small island, where the cancer has yet to appear and it’s hoped that this small population will survive. This was several days ago and I just recall bits of it. Maybe one our Oz members has more info. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/17 "2007-02-27T04:01:51Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Only after they drink a jug of XXX. [/QUOTE] Actually, they act that way after drinking Fosters. The centrifugal projectile vomiting is not a pretty sight. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/18 "2007-02-27T05:48:30Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Of course, neither the Tasmanian Devil nor the Dropbear can hold a candle to the carnivorous mammals of New Zealand, which are both far more aggressively voracious and far more reclusive than those of Australia! [/QUOTE] Indeed. If you ever come across [this beast](http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/Seals/5/ENZ-Resources/Standard/1/en), run! Run very fast! These malevolent creatures will kill you as soon as look at you! And they can easily outpace a human on land. By “land” I mean “sea”. By “you” I mean “certain species of fish”. And by “malevolent” I mean “incredibly cute”. Here is an example of one of their relentless attacks on humans: [http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/Seals/5/ENZ-Resources/Standard/4/en](http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/Seals/5/ENZ-Resources/Standard/4/en) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/19 "2007-02-27T06:03:46Z")
Ant’e got nothing on the New Jersey Devil. That’s why we havn’t put up any eco distroying factories in the the south of NJ, we’re afraded But to the OP, I don’t think they twist around but they’re nasty little creatures. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetterAssortment](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RandomLetterAssortment](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetterAssortment)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750/20 "2007-02-27T08:38:47Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Of course, neither the Tasmanian Devil nor the Dropbear can hold a candle to the carnivorous mammals of New Zealand, which are both far more aggressively voracious and far more reclusive than those of Australia! [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t exactly call the Māori reclusive. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tasmanian-devils-really-whirl-around-like-they-do-in-bugs-bunny-cartoons/393750.md?page=2)