Tasmanian devil declared the state's official animal emblem

The Tasmanian devil has been declared the state's official animal emblem.

Environment Minister Matthew Groom said the devil was recognised worldwide as uniquely Tasmanian.

He said choosing it as the state emblem would help raise awareness about devil facial tumour disease, a fatal condition characterised by the appearance of obvious facial cancers.

The decision brings Tasmania in line with the rest of Australia in having an official animal emblem.

The devil will now stand beside Tasmania's floral emblem, the Tasmanian blue gum, and mineral emblem, crocoite.

Tasmanian devils are the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial and are the inspiration for the Looney Tunes character Taz, who whirls around like a tornado.

It is difficult to know how many devils are left in the wild because their numbers have been ravaged by the contagious tumours, so it is believed there could be between 10,000 and 100,000. Meanwhile, a cruise company has launched a campaign to have the Loch Ness Monster recognised as the national animal of Scotland to replace the unicorn.

AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL EMBLEMS:

*ACT: gang-gang cockatoo

*NSW: platypus and kookaburra

*NT: red kangaroo and wedge-tailed eagle

*QLD: koala and brolga

*SA: hairy-nosed wombat

*VIC: Leadbeater's possum and helmeted honeyeater

*WA: numbat and black swan