This and the following page provides basic, introductory information on the thylacine.  The topics discussed in this introduction will be explored in greater detail under their respective headings in following pages of the website.

   Thylacinus cynocephalus, which is the only recent genus and species of the marsupial family Thylacinidae, appears to have only been found on the island of Tasmania (off the southeastern coast of Australia) within historical times.  Since the beginning of its colonization by Europeans, there have been many reports from the Australian mainland of sightings of animals bearing a close resemblance to the thylacine.  However, none of these reports have been positively confirmed as of yet (Ride 1970; Heuvelmans 1958).  During late Pleistocene and early Holocene times, Thylacinus is known to have been widespread across Australia and nearby New Guinea.
 

The most recent subfossilized thylacine remains from the Australian mainland date back to just over 3,000 years before present.  It is widely believed that the main reason for the disappearance of the thylacine from mainland Australia as well as New Guinea was the introduction of the domestic dog by ancient human settlers from Asia.

. A pair of thylacines photographed at the Hobart Zoo sometime prior to 1921, at which time it was known as the Beaumaris Zoo, and was operated by founder Mary Grant Roberts.  Note that the male (in the background) is larger than the female.

    This introduction may have taken place as much as 10,000 years ago (Archer 1974a; Partridge 1967).  These dogs (called dingoes) formed feral populations which created ecological competition with the thylacine.  Until the arrival of European settlers in the late 18th century, thylacines in Tasmania were essentially safe because the dingo had never become established there.  The thylacine was initially classified within the family Dasyuridae.  However, it is now considered to be representative of a unique marsupial family, which has been assigned the name Thylacinidae.  However, the thylacinids share a close evolutionary relationship with the dasyurids, and are generally considered to have descended from early dasyurid stock.
 

. A thylacine at the London Zoo.

The thylacine's entire body length, from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, is approximately 39-51 in. (990-1295 mm).  The tail measures 20-26 in. (508-660 mm).  The thylacine stands at around 24 in. (609 mm) at the shoulder.  The upper part of the body is of a greyish brown to tawny grey or yellowish brown hue, with between 13-19 blackish brown transverse stripes which run from just behind the shoulders to the base of the tail.

   As is the case with many other mammals, the ventral surface of the animal is somewhat paler in colour.  The face is greyish brown with some faint, whitish markings around the mouth, eyes, and ears.  The hair is short, dense, and somewhat coarse.  The thylacine's dental formula is I1-4/1-3, C1/1, P1-3/1-3, M1-4/1-4, making a total of 46 teeth.

    The thylacine is one of the most spectacular examples of convergent evolution to be found in mammals.  Upon casual observation, its general body build is remarkably reminiscent of that of the placental family Canidae.  Even the structure of the skull is rather similar, apart from the marked differences in dentition.  The thylacine has a remarkably wide gape, one of the widest of any known mammal.  It has long canine teeth, shearing premolars, and molars with grinding surfaces which in some respects parallel those of canids.  However, the thylacine's dentition is adapted more to shearing than chewing, and the molars do not bear grinding surfaces as large as those found in canids.

Although the general body build of the thylacine is similar to a canid's, the tail is of the typical marsupial design, tapering gradually off the body rather than abruptly protruding as is the case in most placental mammals.
 

The thylacine is digitigrade, meaning that it normally walks on its toes.  The pads of the feet are granulated rather than striated.  The front foot has a small, largely non-functional thumb which sometimes, (although rarely) will leave a mark in tracks made in soft mud.  The female has a rear-opening pouch which consists of flap of skin which encloses the four mammae.  This design contrasts with the forward-opening pouch seen in such marsupial families as the Macropdidae (kangaroos and wallabies).

. A thylacine photographed at the Hobart Zoo (Beaumaris site) by naturalist Harry Burrell sometime before 1921.  This version of the photo has been greatly cropped.  Compare it with the original.