Family THYLACINIDAE
Compiler and date details
October 2010 - Updated by Stephen M. Jackson, c/- Queensland Museum, Brisbane, following Van Dyck & Strahan (2008)
31 December 1998 - J.A. Mohoney & W.D.L. Ride (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia
Introduction
The thylacine is the largest carnivorous Australian marsupial of historic times and was confined to Tasmania before European settlement. In earlier times it was widely distributed in Australia.
Superficially canid-like, the thylacine was less specialized as a pursuit carnivore than dogs and wolves. Premolars and molars are specialized for shearing. Canines are long. The incisor formula is 4/3. The marsupium, opening to the rear, is an area with a raised flaplike rim and contains four mammae. The thylacine was a sheep killer and was subjected to heavy hunting pressure; bounties were paid between 1820 and 1909. Currently, the thylacine is regarded as probably extinct. There are frequent reported sightings, but none has been confirmed. Extensive searches have not been successful.
General References
Dixon, J.M. 1989. Thylacinidae. pp. 549-559 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.