The tiny Tasmanian devil in Looney Tunes is Taz, short for the Tasmanian Devil.
Taz is portrayed as a ferocious, short-tempered, voracious character whose speech often consists of growls, grunts, and raspberries. His signature gag is spinning like a miniature tornado while eating or destroying nearly anything in his path. Although the real Tasmanian devil is a marsupial, the cartoon character is exaggerated into a compact whirlwind of appetite and chaos.
Created by animator Robert McKimson, Taz first appeared in the 1954 short “Devil May Hare,” where he stalks Bugs Bunny. Taz originally appeared in only five classic theatrical shorts, but later television exposure and merchandising made him one of Warner Bros.’ most recognizable characters. His popularity expanded dramatically in the 1990s, especially through the animated series “Taz-Mania,” which premiered in 1991.
The nickname is canonical, but the full character name is Tasmanian Devil; some materials also use the playful spelling “Tazmanian Devil.” Taz should not be confused with Gossamer, the large red-haired monster, or Marvin the Martian, the small green alien.