Scientific Classification of the Tasmanian Tiger
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Infraclass - Marsupialia
Order - Dasyuromorphia
Family - Thylacinidae
Genus - Thylacinus
Species - Thylacinus cynocephalus
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Infraclass - Marsupialia
Order - Dasyuromorphia
Family - Thylacinidae
Genus - Thylacinus
Species - Thylacinus cynocephalus
What did it look like?
The Tasmanian Tiger was described as an animal with the head of a dog or wolf, the pouch of a kangaroo, and a stiff tail.
The tiger was a warm sandy colour with approximately 15 to 20 distinct stripes across the back of the shoulders to the tail. It had fairly short legs, and short rounded ears about 80mm long. The Tasmanian Tiger had large powerful jaws consisting of 46 teeth, and short dense hair about 15mm in length. The males were generally larger than females, however both had an opening pouch located at the back of their body where their offspring would be dependant on the mother for atleast half their life.
The tiger was a warm sandy colour with approximately 15 to 20 distinct stripes across the back of the shoulders to the tail. It had fairly short legs, and short rounded ears about 80mm long. The Tasmanian Tiger had large powerful jaws consisting of 46 teeth, and short dense hair about 15mm in length. The males were generally larger than females, however both had an opening pouch located at the back of their body where their offspring would be dependant on the mother for atleast half their life.
Where did it live?
The Tasmanian Tiger was found distributed throughout continental Australia. They were found extending from Papua New Guinea to Tasmania, where they were most commonly found in the north/east coasts and midland plains regions of Tasmania.
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What did they eat?
Tasmanian Tigers were carnivorous marsupials, and semi-nocturnal animals because they were sometimes spotted hunting during the day. They moved at slow paces, and generally stiff in its movements. They hunted mainly at night in pairs, preferring kangaroos and other marsupials as their staple diet.
How did they breed?
Tasmanian Tigers usually breed during winter and spring. Their offspring appear like most other marsupials, they are born tiny and hairless, and develop inside the pouch of the mother. As the baby grows, the pouch expands. Most infants are raised for half their life in the pouch, until the pouch reaches the ground. The life expectancy for Tasmanian Tigers is approximately 5 to 7 years.
Why are they now extinct?
The Tasmanian Tiger became extinct no less than 2000 years ago. The tiger was a major competitor of the dingo, and the introduction of dogs only hastened the decline in numbers. Hunting pressures from humans became a major contributor to the extinction and their assumption that Tasmanian Tigers were "pests" and a threat to livestock. This was highly exaggerated, where over 2,000 bounties were paid by the government between 1888 to 1909 to eradicate the species.