Thylacinus cynocephalus.
The Thylacine is also known as the Tasmanian Tiger due to its striped fur, although it is, in fact, a marsupial.
In sharp contrast to mainland Australia, which has lost almost 50 percent of its indigenous wildlife since the arrival of humans, the only mammal to become extinct on Tasmania is the Thylacine.
Believed to be a serious threat to farm animals, they were intensively hunted in the 19th century.
Interestingly, in 1914 movie star Errol Flynn's father, Thomas, fruitlessly proposed establishing a sanctuary to preserve these largest of the carnivorous marsupials.
The last known Thylacine died in 1937.
Weighing about 25kg, they had large heads and a thick stiff tail.
Thylacines were said to be calm and quiet, unlike their raucous relative, the irascible Tasmanian Devil.
Many died abruptly when captured. There are currently attempts being made to clone this enigmatic marsupial using the devil or a quoll for a surrogate womb/pouch.
We wish the Tasmanian Tigers good luck should they actually make it a second time around.
Size: 20.9L x 11.7W x 11H (cm)
