The new research - conducted by scientists from the Menzies Institute and the University of Tasmania's School of Medicine and Central Science Laboratory - showed that the second strain of devil facial tumour disease (DFTD2) originated from the same cells as the first strain (DFTD1).

The Menzies Institute's Professor Greg Woods said the research highlighted the potential for the emergence of more DFTDs, which he said could "increase the complexity of the conservation management of the species".

The researchers' chief finding was that both existing DFTDs originated from cells covering the Tasmanian devil's nerves - called Schwann cells.

"It is hoped that further investigations into the development of DFTDs from Schwann cells in the devil will allow for identification of strategies to mitigate [the] risk [of additional diseases developing]," Professor Woods said.

"The emergence of two independent transmissible cancers from the same tissue in the Tasmanian devil presents an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into cancer development, evolution and immune evasion in mammalian species."