The thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) is the only species of the marsupial family Thylacinidae to exist into modern times.  It is commonly referred to as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf, but being a marsupial, it is neither a tiger or a wolf in any true sense.  It is, however, an excellent example of parallel evolution - a process which occurs as a result of adaptation to similar environments and ways of life.  The thylacine's body shape approximately resembles that of the placental wolf because it is a predator which occupies a similar ecological niche.  Apart from the notable differences in dentition, even the thylacine's skull structure superficially resembles that of a canid.  Through their separate courses of evolution, many of the marsupial mammals of Australia have arrived at remarkably similar physical forms to the placental mammals found elsewhere in the world.

    The last survivor of an ancient and once diverse family of carnivorous marsupials, the thylacine is a truly amazing and beautiful mammal.  Sadly, out of ignorance, irrational fear, and largely just because it was perceived as an economic threat, a concerted war of extermination was waged against the species.  This resulted in one of man's most focused acts of destruction towards the fauna of Australia, leading to the deaths of thousands of thylacines during the 19th and early 20th centuries.  By the time this persecution was seen as the tragedy that it was, the thylacine had been brought to the brink of extinction.  Today, the thylacine is listed as extinct by the WWF and IUCN.  However, there is sufficient evidence in the form of sightings reports, many from highly respected sources, to suggest that the extinction event may not yet have taken place.  Therefore, throughout the museum, the species is viewed as extant, albeit critically endangered.

    The thylacine has always been one of my specialized areas of study and research, and through this scientifically referenced virtual museum, I hope to promote a greater public knowledge of this most remarkable marsupial.  I am grateful to my colleague Dr. Stephen Sleightholme (Director to the International Thylacine Specimen Database Project) for his assistance with the latest update of the Thylacine Museum, and also the late Professor Heinz Moeller, whose extensive historical archives were central in the expansion of the site's content.

    The museum will now take you on a journey through time to learn more about this extraordinary and elusive marsupial carnivore.

Cameron R. Campbell
Founder and Curator