the last known Tasmanian Tiger (now extinct) photographed in 1933

The last known Tasmanian Tiger (now extinct) photographed in 1933

The thylacine (/ˈθaɪləsiːn/ thy-lə-seen,[4] or /ˈθaɪləsaɪn/ thy-lə-syne,[5] also /ˈθaɪləsᵻn/;[6] binomial name:Thylacinus cynocephalus, Greek for "dog-headed pouched one") was the largest known carnivorous marsupialof modern times. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger (because of its striped lower back) or theTasmanian wolf.[7] Native to continental Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, it is believed to have becomeextinct in the 20th century. It was the last extant member of its family, Thylacinidae; specimens of other members of the family have been found in the fossil record dating back to the late Oligocene.

Surviving evidence suggests that it was a relatively shy, nocturnal creature with the general appearance of a medium-to-large-size dog, except for its stiff tail and abdominal pouch (which was reminiscent of a kangaroo) and a series of dark transverse stripes that radiated from the top of its back (making it look a bit like a tiger). The thylacine was an apex predator, like the tigers and wolves of the Northern Hemisphere from which it obtained two of its common names. As a marsupial, it was not closely related to these placental mammals, but because of convergent evolution it displayed the same general form and adaptations. Its closest living relative is thought to be either the Tasmanian devil or the numbat. The thylacine was one of only two marsupials to have a pouchin both sexes (the other being the water opossum). The male thylacine had a pouch that acted as a protective sheath, covering his external reproductive organs while he ran through thick brush. The thylacine has been described as a formidable predator because of its ability to survive and hunt prey in extremely sparsely populated areas.[3]

The thylacine had become extremely rare or extinct on the Australian mainland before British settlement of the continent, but it survived on the island of Tasmania along with several other endemic species, including theTasmanian devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributing factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. Despite its official classification as extinct, sightings are still reported, though none has been conclusively proven.