2. The Tasmanian tiger or
Thylacine was by far the
largest carnivorous
marsupial of recent times.
3. His total body length was around 1 meter
and his tail length was around 50-65 cm.
4. In prehistoric times the Tasmanian tiger
ranged from Tasmania, mainland Australia to
New Guinea. However, in recent times the
Tasmanian tiger was restricted to the
Australian island of Tasmania
5. The modern Tasmanian tiger first
appeared about 4 million years ago. The
Dickson's Thylacine is the oldest of the
seven discovered fossil species,
(23 million years ago).
The skulls of the Thylacine (left) and the Timber Wolf
7. Reproduction
• The breeding season is thought to have
taken place in the fall. Births occurred
continuously throughout the year, but were
concentrated in the summer months
(December-March). It is believed that the
young (usually 2-4) stayed in the pouch for
3 months and remained with the mother for
another 6 months
8. Lifestyle
• The Tasmanian tiger was a nocturnal species,
but was often observed basking in the sun. It
hunted alone or in small groups. There is a
controversy over the Tasmanian tiger's hunting
technique. Some think that the Tasmanian tiger
was an ambush hunter that relied on stealth
while others think the Tasmanian tiger would
tirelessly chase its prey until the target was
exhausted, when it would rush in for the kill. The
Tasmanian tiger had many different calls,
including a rough bark while hunting, deep growl
when irritated, and a whine.
