Thylacine
Extinct carnivorous marsupial, iconic symbol of Tasmania.
The thylacine (THY-luh-seen; binomial name Thylacinus cynocephalus), also commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian wolf or marsupial wolf, is an extinct species of carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian mainland and the islands of Tasmania and New Guinea. It was the only member of the genus Thylacinus and family Thylacinidae to survive until modern times, and its closest living relatives are other members of Dasyuromorphia, including the Tasmanian devil. The thylacine is widespread in popular culture and is a cultural icon in Australia, featured on the official coat of arms of Tasmania.
- Scientific name
- Thylacinus cynocephalus
- Common names
- Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian wolf, marsupial wolf
- Native range
- Australian mainland, Tasmania, New Guinea
- Average body mass
- 16.7 kg (range 9.8–28.1 kg)
- Known for
- Striped back, marsupial pouch in both sexes, convergent evolution with canids
Lore & Background
Before European settlement, several thousand remained in the wild on Tasmania. Beginning in the 19th century, they were perceived as a threat to livestock and bounty hunting was introduced. Intensive hunting is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributing factors included disease, competition with dingoes, human encroachment, and climate change.
Reader's Guide
The thylacine's significance lies in its role as a unique marsupial predator and a cautionary example of human-driven extinction. It was a classic example of convergent evolution, resembling canids of the Northern Hemisphere despite being a marsupial. Its whole genome sequence has been mapped, and there are efforts to clone and bring it back to life. The remains of the last known thylacine were discovered at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in 2022. Numerous searches and reported sightings of live animals have occurred since extinction, none confirmed. The thylacine remains a symbol of Tasmania and a subject of research worldwide.
Did You Know?
- Both sexes of thylacine had a pouch; females used theirs for rearing young, males as a protective sheath for external reproductive organs.
- The thylacine could open its jaws to an unusual extent and had a stiff tail.
- The name 'thylacine' is derived from Greek thýlakos meaning 'pouch' and -ine meaning 'pertaining to'.
- The earliest known fossil record of the modern thylacine is from the Early Pleistocene, around 1.77–0.78 million years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Thylacine?
Thylacine is the common name for the extinct carnivorous marsupial Thylacinus cynocephalus, once found across mainland Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. It was the last surviving member of the family Thylacinidae and is often called the Tasmanian tiger or marsupial wolf.
What are Thylacine's powers/role?
Thylacine was a mid-sized predator averaging around 16.7 kg, with a distinctive striped back and a pouch present in both males and females. Its body plan closely resembled that of a canid wolf, a textbook example of convergent evolution between marsupials and placental mammals.
Why is Thylacine important?
As a cultural icon of Australia, the thylacine appears on the official coat of arms of Tasmania and remains a powerful symbol of the continent's lost biodiversity. Its disappearance is frequently cited as a cautionary tale about how quickly human activity can eliminate a unique species.
Where did Thylacine live and what did it eat?
Thylacine was native to the Australian mainland, Tasmania, and New Guinea, where it hunted small mammals and other prey as a carnivorous marsupial. Its closest living relatives belong to the order Dasyuromorphia, which includes the Tasmanian devil.
More in Marsupials 1-24
Elsewhere in the Marsupials universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record