Thylacine

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[[File:Thylacinus_cynocephalus_2_Gould.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Artist's depiction]]
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The '''thylacine''' (''Thylacinus cynocephalus''), more commonly known as the '''Tasmanian wolf''' or '''Tasmanian tiger''', was the largest modern marsupial carnivore until it went [[Extinction|extinct]] in 1936.<ref>[http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/21866/0 ICUN on Tylacinus cynocephalus]</ref> Thylacines first [[evolution|evolved]] around 23 million years ago<ref>{{wpa|Nimbacinus dicksoni}}</ref> and had become practically marsupial dogs,<ref group=note>[[Richard Dawkins]] once said in ''The Ancestor's Tale'' "...the skeleton [of a thylacine] is harder to distinguish [from a dog]. Zoology students at Oxford had to identify 100 zoological specimens as part of the final exam. Word soon got around that, if ever a 'dog' skull was given, it was safe to identify it as Thylacinus on the grounds that anything as obvious as a dog skull had to be a catch."</ref> [[convergent evolution|both having adapted]] to similar [[niche]]s. In their prime, thylacines were the apex predators of New Guinea, [[Australia]], and Tasmania, although Tasmanian devils likely preyed on their young.<ref>[http://australianmuseum.net.au/The-Thylacine/ Australian Museum: The Thylacine]</ref> More than 4000 years ago, Asian traders introduced dingoes to Australia.<ref>[http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/279/1730/967 Mitochondrial DNA data indicate an introduction through Mainland Southeast Asia for Australian dingoes and Polynesian domestic dogs]</ref> Dingoes and thylacines occupied different ecological niches (like the opossum eating in your trash can live in harmony with the raccoon also eating from your trash), but apparently shared diseases,<ref> Lauren C. White; Frédérik Saltré; Corey J. A. Bradshaw; Jeremy J. Austin (2018). "High-quality fossil dates support a synchronous, Late Holocene extinction of devils and thylacines in mainland Australia". Biology Letters. 14 (1): 20170642. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2017.0642. PMC 5803592 Freely accessible. PMID 29343562.</ref> and thylacines became extinct on mainland Australia. A population persisted on Tasmania, but hunting continued, and in 1936, the species became [[extinct]].

==Cryptozoology==
Despite its extinction, some 3800 [[anecdote|unconfirmed sightings]] of the thylacine have been reported.<ref>[http://arfra.webs.com/informationfaq.htm Australian Rare Fauna Research Association FAQ]</ref> In addition, there are the usual dubious photographs and government funded searches that turn up nothing.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Tourist-claims-to-have-snapped-Tasmanian-tiger/2005/03/01/1109546854027.html?oneclick=true The Sydney Morning Herald:Tourist claims to have snapped Tasmanian tiger]</ref><ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/Tassie-Tiger/Mystery-that-burns-so-bright/2002/09/25/1032734210053.html The Sydney Morning Herald:Mystery that burns so bright]</ref> Some sightings apparently even come from mainland [[Australia]] and New Guinea,<ref>[http://www.newanimal.org/thylacine.htm The Cryptid Zoo:Thyacine]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tasmanian-tiger-sightings-investigated/ Scientists investigate Tasmanian tiger sightings] by Mindy Weisberger (March 31, 2017, 1:25 PM) ''CBS News''.</ref> where thylacines have been extinct for literally thousands of years.<ref>Paddle, Robert (2000). ''The Last Tasmanian Tiger: the History and Extinction of the Thylacine.'' Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-53154-2</ref>

==Cloning and genetics==
In 1999, a project to [[clone]] the thylacine began, and even claimed a breakthrough.<Ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2002/may/30/genetics.australia The Guardian:Back from the dead]</ref> Unfortunately, the project was canceled in 2005.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20081015173047/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1303501.htm ABC News Online: Museum ditches thylacine cloning project] via the [[Wayback Machine]]</ref> Some work has been done since on thylacine [[genetics]], including the sequencing of the thylacine [[mitochondrion|mitochondrial]] [[genome]], and possibly getting the nuclear genome for $1 million.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2652203/?tool=pmcentrez NCBI:The mitochondrial genome sequence of the Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)]</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:"Benjamin".jpg|The last captive thylacine
File:Thylacine footage compilation.ogv|Compilation of all known videos of captive thylacines
File:Thylacine rock art at Ubirr.jpg|Rock art  of a thylacine in Ubirr, Northern Territory, Australia
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Convergent evolution]]

==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Australia]]

Categories: Animals, Australia