Thylacinus cynocephalus
Also known as the Tasmanian Tiger, Tasmanian Wolf, and Tasmanian Hyena (among other names), the Tasmanian thylacine was the largest marsupial carnivore in recent times. Although widely known simply as the thylacine, the term Tasmanian thylacine is used at times in scientific publications and in the title of this page to differentiate this species from the ancient Powerful (Thylacinus potens) and Dickson's (Nimbacinus dicksoni) thylacines.
Despite it's nicknames, the thylacine was not at all related to wolves or any other canid. It's outward appearance is an example of convergent evolution. The thylacine differed from wolves and other canids in many respects, the first of which is the fact it was a marsupial, giving birth to embryonic young which developed in a pouch or marsupium. The thylacine also had a different foot structure, with longer 'spread' toes in the front and the ability to stand plantigrade (using the full foot instead of simply the toes like in dogs and cats) in the rear, much like a kangaroo. The thylacine also had more rounded ears, and a slightly different dental structure. The thylacines closest relative is the Tasmanian Devil .
|
|
Although restricted to the island state of Tasmania off the southern coast of Australia, recent evidence has shown that the thylacine was once present in mainland Australia as well. Aboriginal rock paintings and mummified remains dating back as far as 3000 years have been found in southern Australia confirming the animals' former range. It is not clear what drove the thylacine to extinction on the mainland before modern times, but it has been speculated that the introduction of the dog, brought when humans first arrived on the continent and believed to be the ancestor of the modern dingo, may have in time contributed to the extinction of the mainland thylacines, leaving only those without direct competition from canids on Tasmania as a relict population. What is known is that the thylacines range was restricted to Tasmanian when Europeans arrived in the 18th century, and thylacines survived into the mid twentieth century. There are some who contend that the thylacine still exists, but it has been officially listed as 'presumed extinct', since there have been no confirmed sightings since the 1940's. |
Before it's extinction in the 1930's, little scientific observation had been made of thylacines in the wild. What is known of their behavior comes from word of mouth. The thylacine was the apex predator of it's ecosystem, and like all predators may have scavenged from time to time, although not as extensively as the Tasmanian devil. Hunting depended on endurance, with the thylacine running it's prey to exhaustion and then going in for the kill. There are reports of thylacine eating only the organs and other select parts of their prey, but this has not been confirmed. Hunting may have taken place in groups, and it is theorized that the facial markings and stripes of the thylacine aided in identifying individuals during the hunt.
Thylacines are said to have lived alone or in small family groups consisting of a mated pair and dependant young. As marsupials, young would be born in an embryonic state and developed in the female's pouch or marsupium. Thylacine families are reported to have had a home 'den' within their territories. Dens and den sites figure in both historical and modern sightings.
|
|
The thylacine was abundant in Tasmania when Europeans arrived, and the persecution and extinction had not been extensive until the late 19th and early 20th century. Mismanagement and of sheep herds and attacks by feral dogs led London based interests to threaten to withdraw financial support from Australian livestock owners, and in an attempt to explain the losses as beyond control, the thylacine was blamed. Several bounties were put out on thylacines as the government argued whether or not to protect the species. The last recorded killing of a wild thylacine was by Wilf Batty in 1930. It wasn't until July of 1936 that the thylacine was named a protected species. |
When numbers began to dwindle, zoos and museums began to pay premium prices to anyone who could trap a specimen for shipment to Australian institutions as well as Europe and the United States. Several zoos displayed thylacines, including cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Washington DC, New York, London, Antwerp, Cologne, and Berlin. Although there is some speculation that the Melbourne zoo had successfully bred a pair, there is little hard evidence that any thylacines were bred in captivity. Once the animals died, offers would go up for a new pair.
The last captive thylacine died in a zoo in Hobart of neglect. Reputedly named 'Benjamin' (although evidence suggests it was a female), this thylacine died of neglect. Financial problems and the driving out of the former owner's female heir had driven the zoo to hire inexperienced workers, and animals were often left outside their enclosure or improperly fed and cleaned. 'Benjamin' was left out of her enclosure in bad weather, and died on September 7, 1936.
Although listed as officially extinct, there are those that believe the thylacine may still exist. Although there is no hard evidence of the continued existence of thylacines, there have been several sightings reported. The most recent report to make headlines was the 2005 reputed sighting and photograph taken by a German tourist. With the recent discoveries of previously unknown species in southeast Asia and the confirmed continued existence of the ivory billed woodpecker, it is not difficult to believe that in a state which is mostly wildlife preserve, a remnant population of thylacines might still exist.
(off-site links)
Film reputed to be of the last captive thylacine
The following museums have thylacine specimens on display
Australia
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania
Burke Museum, Beechworth, Victoria
Melbourne Museum, Carlton, Victoria
The Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
south Australian museum, Adelaide, South Australia
Czech Republic
National Museum of the Czech Republic, Prague
France
Paris National Museum of Natural History, Paris
Germany
University of Heidelberg Zoological Museum, Heidelberg
Senckenberg Centre for Biodiversity Research, Senckenberg
National Museum for Natural History, Stuttgart
Italy
Natural history Museum, Genoa
Switzerland
Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich, Zurich
|
|
United Kingdom |
United
States
National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
