Largest marsupials of Tasmania

 

Common name-Thylacine

Scientific name-Thylacinus cynocephalus

Kingdom- Animalia

Phylum- Chordata

Class- Mammalia

Diet- Carnivore

Weight- 25 to 30kg

Height- 100-130cm and 50-60cm long tail

Life span- 5 to 7 yrs

Habitat- Australia,Tasmania and New Guinea

Thylacine also called Marsupial wolf,Tasmanian tiger, and Tasmanian wolf. It was one of the largest known carnivorous marsupials, evolving about 2 million years ago.They were the native of the island of the Tasmania and guinea and the mainland of Australia.It was the largest meat eating Marsupial to live into modern times.They first seen in 1936.

Thylacine was sandy yellowish-brown to grey in colour and had 15 to 20  dark stripes across the back from shoulders to tail. Although the large head was dog- or wolf-like, the tail was stiff and the legs were relatively short. They are also able to stand on there hind legs,much like a kangaroo ,although it is unknown if they can hop.The females have a backwards facing pouch to carry their baby (as a kangaroo). The males also have a pouch to protect 'male bits'.They are shy and feared in nature.They are believed to hunt in small groups or alone not in packs like wolves.They were seen as a livestock killer.

It went extinct in mainland Australia about 2,000 yrs ago due to hunting (for entertainment purpose or for sell their skin to other countries for money).But unfortunately,they were not protected until 3 months before the last one died.The last known live animal was captured in 1933 in Tasmania in Hobert Zoo(also known as Beaumaris Zoo),in Tasmania. But unfortunately ,they were also died on 7th Sep 1936 which means on this day, the species was completely finished only because of human greediness and their selfish nature.

Then, now we celebrates the National Thylacine Day on 7th September.