The Thylacine

One of the largest carnivorous marsupials declared extinct in 1936.



The Tasmanian Tiger, has generally very similar appearance to a medium-sized dog. The distinguishing characteristics of this marsupial are the dark stripes on its lower back and the famous kangaroo-like abdominal pouch. These dark stripes earn this carnivore the name The Tasmanian Tiger, as the same stripes are seen on the traditional Tiger. The Thylacine was native to Tasmania.

Thylacinus cynocephalus was an apex predator of Tasmania, and like many other species, has gone extinct due to humans. Excessive hunting and destruction of habitats greatly contributed to the extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger.

Tasmanian Tiger being hunted.

The Thylacine is believed to have hunted and feed on kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and other birds and small animals. Furthermore, many believed that the Tasmanian Tiger also preyed upon sheep and poultry and during the 20th century was described as a blood drinker.

The last captive thylacine was named Benjamin and was kept in the Hobart Zoo where it lived for three years and died on September 7, 1936. The reason of death was likely neglect, as it was locked out of the sheltered sleeping quarters, being exposed to rare extreme Tasmanian weather. The extreme heat during the day, and freezing temperatures during the night-time proved to be too difficult to handle. The last video of a living thylacine was a 62 second footage of Benjamin.










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