description Thylacine Overview
Known as the Tasmanian tiger because of the dark stripes across its back, the thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial scientifically named Thylacinus cynocephalus. Its long muzzle and doglike outline contrasted with its marsupial ancestry. Tasmania was its final refuge, but the species had also lived on mainland Australia and in New Guinea. It hunted animal prey, including wallabies and other kangaroo relatives.
The last known captive thylacine died in 1936, and the species is recognized as extinct. Its history draws attention to persecution and the difficulty of protecting animals whose numbers have already fallen sharply. For biologists, it provides a striking example of unrelated mammals developing similar body forms. It also suits readers interested in Australian natural history and conservation research examining how extinction unfolds.
help Thylacine FAQ
When did the last known thylacine die?
The last confirmed captive thylacine, often referred to as "Benjamin," died on the night of September 7, 1936, at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, Tasmania. This specific date is now observed as National Threatened Species Day in Australia.
What did the thylacine eat before going extinct?
The thylacine was an apex predator that primarily hunted small to medium-sized marsupials, including wallabies, pademelons, and wombats. As a nocturnal hunter, it relied on stamina rather than speed to exhaust its prey in the dense Tasmanian bush.
Where did the thylacine originally live before going extinct in Tasmania?
While commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf, the thylacine was once widespread across mainland Australia and the island of New Guinea. Fossil records and ancient Aboriginal rock art indicate they disappeared from the mainland roughly 2,000 years ago, likely due to competition with dingoes.
Is the thylacine related to the modern wolf?
Despite its striking physical resemblance to a dog or wolf, the thylacine was a marsupial completely unrelated to placental canines. This similarity is a classic textbook example of convergent evolution, where unrelated species evolve similar traits to fill identical ecological niches.
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