HOME | DD

Description
The Thylacine, Thylacinus cynocephalus, was the largest carnivorous marsupial to be seen by Europeans. Larger ones like the Marsupial Lion, Thylacoleo carnifex, existed but went extinct some time before Australia was 'discovered' by westerners. Thylacines once lived on Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania, but survived only on the last into recent times. They were hunted because of being thought to kill sheep and poultry. A bounty was paid for each dead thylacine, and from 1830 over 2 000 were paid. The last known thylacine survived in a zoo until 1936. The species was only declared protected in the same year, but no further ones were seen except for unverifiable sightings that continue today. But there's nothing concrete, no body, no clear photo, not even a footprint. So likely this unique mammal is no longer with us. Thylacines were the size of a medium-large dog, and could open their jaws very wide. There are reports of them hopping on their hind legs. Their pouches opened to the rear, and the male also had one, which likely was to protect its genitals. We don't know exactly which animals thylacines hunted. They likely went extinct on Australia and New Guinea as a result of contact with humans and competition from introduced dingoes.

Description
The Thylacine, Thylacinus cynocephalus, was the largest carnivorous marsupial to be seen by Europeans. Larger ones like the Marsupial Lion, Thylacoleo carnifex, existed but went extinct some time before Australia was 'discovered' by westerners. Thylacines once lived on Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania, but survived only on the last into recent times. They were hunted because of being thought to kill sheep and poultry. A bounty was paid for each dead thylacine, and from 1830 over 2 000 were paid. The last known thylacine survived in a zoo until 1936. The species was only declared protected in the same year, but no further ones were seen except for unverifiable sightings that continue today. But there's nothing concrete, no body, no clear photo, not even a footprint. So likely this unique mammal is no longer with us. Thylacines were the size of a medium-large dog, and could open their jaws very wide. There are reports of them hopping on their hind legs. Their pouches opened to the rear, and the male also had one, which likely was to protect its genitals. We don't know exactly which animals thylacines hunted. They likely went extinct on Australia and New Guinea as a result of contact with humans and competition from introduced dingoes.