Thyclaine (Tasmanian Tiger) Report
Introduction
The Thyclaine, also known as the Tasmanian Tiger, was a marsupial that appeared like a
cross between a dog and a tiger that lived in the continental Australia for over 30 million
years. It is now extinct.
Appearance
The Thyclaine was a yellow- grayish colour and had a small pair of ears (80mm) and a
large powerful jaw. It also had 15-20 black or grey stripes across its rear back. It had a
back- opening pouch that they used to carry their pups around. It also had thick, dense
body hair (15mm).
Biology
The Thyclaine had a back- opening pouch, which was used to hold its pups. Even the males had a pouch as
well! It could hold up to 4 pups. The oldest Thyclaine fossil was 30 million years old!
Habitat
The Thyclaine lived in mainland Australia and New Guinea. Later it was confined to
Tasmania. It lived in the gum forests. There were possible aboriginal Thyclaine paintings in
northern Australia>
Diet
The Thyclaine ate marsupials, including Kangaroos, wallabies, rodents, birds etc. it hunted
at nights in pairs or single.
Prehistory
There were very old paintings of Thyclaines in aboriginal caves. However, when the aborigines were asked
if they know the Thyclaine, they said no!
Status
The Thyclaine is now listed as extinct on the ICUN red list. The last known living Thyclaine died on 1936
in Hobart zoo.
Reference
Australian museum- Thyclaine: http://australianmuseum.net.au/The-Thylacine
Thyclaine museum: http://www.naturalworlds.org/thylacine/naturalhistory/prehistoric_range_1.htm