Leslie Massey
The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf, is a large carnivorous marsupial that inhabited the Australian mainland, New Guinea, and Tasmania. The species is believed to be extinct, with the last known thylacine dying in 1936. However, there have been reported sightings and efforts to clone and bring the species back. Thylacines were widely hunted by European settlers and competed with dingoes for food, which likely led to their disappearance from mainland Australia. Thylacine fossils and rock art have been found in various regions of Australia, providing valuable genetic and biological information for researchers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Thylacine |
| Scientific Name | Thylacinus cynocephalus |
| Nicknames | Tasmanian Tiger, Tasmanian Wolf, Marsupial Wolf |
| Description | Large carnivorous marsupial with sandy yellowish-brown to grey fur and 15 to 20 distinct dark stripes from shoulders to tail. Short, dense fur, about 15mm in length. Relatively short legs, a stiff tail, and a large, dog- or wolf-like head. |
| Size | 60 cm (24 in) shoulder height, 1–1.3 m (3.3–4.3 ft) body length, 50 to 65 cm (20 to 26 in) tail length |
| Weight | Estimated to be larger than the average weight of dogs, wolves, and their relatives |
| Diet | Subsisted mainly on a diet of wallabies, but also ate other small mammals, birds, and occasionally sheep or chickens |
| Habitat | Grasslands, wetlands, and dry eucalyptus4 forests in Tasmania, New Guinea, and mainland Australia |
| Extinction | Officially extinct since 1986, with the last known living specimen dying in 1936 |
| De-extinction | Thylacine is a candidate for de-extinction through cloning, though the process is expensive and complex |
| Cultural Significance | Featured on the official coat of arms of Tasmania and used as a symbol of what could be lost due to extinction |
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What You'll Learn
Thylacine is believed to be extinct since 1986
The Thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf, is a large carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian mainland and the islands of Tasmania and New Guinea. The species is believed to have become extinct in 1986, with the last known Thylacine dying in 1936.
The Thylacine is believed to have died out in New Guinea and mainland Australia around 3,600–3,200 years ago, before the arrival of Europeans, possibly due to the introduction of the dingo. The Thylacine population in Tasmania at the time of European settlement is estimated to have been around 5,000. However, excessive hunting, habitat destruction, and introduced diseases led to the rapid extinction of the species. The establishment of the first colonies in Tasmania in the early 1800s brought the farming industry, and settlers cleared large areas of land for livestock such as sheep and cattle. Despite evidence that feral dogs and widespread mismanagement were responsible for most stock losses, the Thylacine became a scapegoat and was hated and feared by the Tasmanian public. As early as 1830, bounty systems were established for the Thylacine, with farm owners offering money for their skins.
The Thylacine was a large, short-haired dog-like animal with a stiff tail, powerful jaws, and 46 teeth. Adult male Thylacines were larger than females, and their sandy yellowish-brown to grey-coloured bodies featured 15 to 20 distinct dark stripes from shoulders to tail. The female Thylacine had a back-opening pouch and a litter size of up to four. The young were dependent on the mother until they were at least half-grown.
Today, the Thylacine remains a cultural icon in Australia, and its potential for 'de-extinction' is a subject of controversy. While there have been numerous searches and reported sightings, there is no conclusive evidence of the continued existence of the Thylacine. However, various scientists have undertaken research into cloning the Tasmanian tiger and bringing the species back. While this process is complex and expensive, the National Museum of Australia holds a significant Thylacine-related collection, including a complete 'wet specimen' and other preserved body parts.
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It was a large carnivorous marsupial
The thylacine, or 'dog-headed pouched-dog', was a large carnivorous marsupial. It was the only member of the family Thylacinidae to survive into modern times. The thylacine was sandy yellowish-brown to grey in colour and had 15 to 20 distinct dark stripes across its back from shoulders to tail. Its large head was dog- or wolf-like, and its tail was stiff. Its legs were relatively short, and its body hair was dense, short, and soft, up to 15mm in length. Its ears were short, about 80mm long, erect, rounded, and covered with short fur. Its jaws were large and powerful, and it had 46 teeth. Male thylacines were larger on average than females. The female had a back-opening pouch, and the litter size was up to four. The young were dependent on the mother until at least half-grown.
The thylacine was a predatory marsupial that existed on mainland Australia during the Holocene epoch and was observed by Europeans on the island of Tasmania. The species is known as the Tasmanian tiger for the striped markings of its pelage. It is believed to have become extinct in Tasmania in 1936, and it was officially declared extinct in 1986. However, there continue to be many reported sightings by people who believe the animal is still alive.
The thylacine is featured on the official coat of arms of Tasmania, and National Threatened Species Day has been commemorated in Australia on 7 September—the date on which the last known thylacine died in 1936. The earliest records of the modern thylacine are from the Early Pleistocene, with the oldest known fossil record in southeastern Australia from the Calabrian age. Thylacinids are estimated to have split from other members of Dasyuromorphia around 42–36 million years ago. The earliest representative of the family is Badjcinus turnbulli from the Late Oligocene of Riversleigh in Queensland, around 25 million years ago. Early thylacinids were quoll-sized, well under 10 kg (22 lb). It probably ate insects and small reptiles and mammals, although signs of an increasingly carnivorous diet can be seen as early as the early Miocene in Wabulacinus.
A mummified carcass of a thylacine was found in a cave on the Nullarbor Plain. It lived about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, just before the dingo was introduced to Australia. Aboriginal rock-paintings of thylacine-like animals have been found in northern Australia, including the Kimberley region of Western Australia. There is evidence to suggest that Aboriginal people in Tasmania used the thylacine as food. Fossil thylacines have been reported from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland.
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It was also known as the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf
The thylacine, a large carnivorous marsupial, is also known as the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf. The animal is believed to be extinct, with the last known thylacine dying in 1936. Intensive hunting is generally blamed for its extinction, but other factors such as disease, the introduction of and competition with dingoes, human encroachment, and climate change also played a role.
The thylacine was sandy yellowish-brown to grey in colour and had 15 to 20 distinct dark stripes across its back, rump, and the base of its tail. The stripes were more pronounced in younger animals and faded as they aged. The animal's body hair was dense, short, and soft, up to 15mm in length. Its rounded, erect ears were about 80mm long and covered with short fur. The thylacine had a large, dog- or wolf-like head, a stiff tail, and relatively short legs.
The name 'Tasmanian Tiger' was derived from the dark stripes on its back, resembling the stripes of a tiger. It was also called the 'Tasmanian Wolf' because it resembled a medium- to large-sized canid. The thylacine's scientific name, Thylacinus cynocephalus, translates to 'dog-headed pouched-dog'. Both males and females had a pouch: females used theirs for rearing young, while males used theirs as a protective sheath for their external reproductive organs.
The thylacine has become a symbol of Tasmania and is featured on the official coat of arms. Despite its official extinction, there have been numerous searches and reported sightings, but none have been confirmed. The animal has also appeared in popular culture, including video games, films, and television shows.
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It was widely hunted by European settlers
The thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf, was a large carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian mainland and the islands of Tasmania and New Guinea. It is now believed to be extinct.
The thylacine was extensively hunted by European settlers, who perceived the animal as a threat to their livestock. Beginning in the nineteenth century, bounty hunting was introduced, with rewards offered for thylacine skins. The Van Diemen's Land Company introduced bounties on the thylacine as early as 1830, and between 1888 and 1909, the Tasmanian government paid £1 per head for dead adult thylacines and ten shillings for pups. A total of 2,184 bounties were paid out, but it is believed that the actual number of thylacines killed was much higher.
The thylacine's habit of hunting sheep led to efforts to eradicate the species from Tasmania. Within a mere eighty years, thylacines became a rarity in the region. The last known thylacine in captivity died in 1936 at Hobart Zoo in Tasmania, and the species has been officially extinct since 1986.
The extinction of the thylacine is largely attributed to the relentless efforts of farmers and bounty hunters. Other factors contributing to its decline include competition with wild dogs introduced by European settlers, habitat erosion, low genetic diversity, the extinction or decline of prey species, and a distemper-like disease affecting captive specimens.
Today, the thylacine remains a cultural icon in Australia, with its whole genome sequence mapped and ongoing efforts to clone and bring the species back. Numerous examples of thylacine engravings and rock art have been discovered, dating back to at least 1000 BC, providing valuable insights into the historical presence of this species in Australia.
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It is featured on the official coat of arms of Tasmania
The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf, is a large carnivorous marsupial that is believed to be extinct. It is native to the Australian mainland and the islands of Tasmania and New Guinea. The thylacine is sandy yellowish-brown to grey in colour and has distinct dark stripes across its back, earning it the nickname "tiger". It has also been called a "wolf" because of its resemblance to a medium- to large-sized canid.
The thylacine has been used extensively as a symbol of Tasmania and is featured on the official coat of arms of the Australian state. The coat of arms was granted by King George V in May 1917 and includes significant examples of Tasmanian industry, such as a sheaf of wheat, hops, a ram, and apples. The shield is supported by two thylacines (Tasmanian tigers/wolves) with a motto beneath: "Ubertas et Fidelitas", which is Latin for "Fertility and Faithfulness".
The thylacine has become a cultural icon in Australia and is featured in various official logos, including those for the Tasmanian government and the City of Launceston. It is also displayed on Tasmanian vehicle number plates and has appeared on postage stamps from Australia, Equatorial Guinea, and Micronesia. The animal has been the subject of numerous works of art and literature, including John Gould's "The Mammals of Australia" and the 2011 Australian drama film "The Hunter".
The thylacine has been the focus of scientific research, with its whole genome sequence mapped and efforts to clone and bring the species back to life. The last known thylacine died in 1936, and since 1996, 7 September has been commemorated in Australia as National Threatened Species Day.
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Frequently asked questions
Thylacines were found in Tasmania, New Guinea, and mainland Australia. They inhabited grasslands, wetlands, and dry eucalyptus7 forests.
Thylacines became extinct in the 1930s. The last known living specimen died in a private zoo in Hobart in 1936.
Thylacines were slender, fox-faced animals with short hair. They had between 15 to 20 dark stripes across their backs, from shoulders to tail. They had short, erect ears covered with short fur and powerful jaws with 46 teeth.
There is a range of evidence of the existence of thylacines, including preserved specimens, fossil records, skins and skeletal remains, black-and-white photographs, and film footage. There are also reports of rock art and engravings featuring thylacine-like animals found in Northern Australia, particularly in the Kimberley region.
