It was considered the largest marsupial carnivore, but is now thought to be extinct. Despite the similarities with a canid such as the Wolf (especially in lifestyle), the tasmanian tiger was extremely different, its canine appearance being offset by its relatively short legs, tapered head and wide tail at the base, which could not be moved from side to side. The short and rough coat was a dirty yellow, crossed by 13-19 brown stripes starting from the upper back and continuing to the base of the tail.
The vargat Corps attracted the name"Tiger". The specimens that lived in the Highlands had a richer, cinnamon-brown coat. The fur also has a few discreet spots around the eyes and near the rounded and straight ears. The abdomen was cream, the females carrying a sac with the back opening and the males a preudo-marsupial in the form of a fold of skin, which protected their testicles when moving at speed through low arboreal vegetation.
The Tasmanian tiger was renowned for its ability to open its jaw greatly; although it is unlikely that the opening was as wide as it is assumed (1800), the mouth yawning was still the largest among all mammals, being surpassed only by that of the snake. This species represents the classic example of convergent evolution, being a unique marsupial predator, a creature that evolved in isolation in Australia.
Very few observational studies have been conducted on Tasmanian tigers in the wild or in captivity, so information about their natural habitat or behavior is incomplete. Reports show that they were mainly solitary, nocturnal animals, although small groups of its mother and Young have also been observed.
In the light of conflicting reports, there is some controversy about the mating season, it is not clear whether breeding occurs more often in summer or winter. The number of pups was a maximum of four, taking into account the four nipples of the females, positioned inside the marsupial. The young remained in the marsupial bag for about four months, after which they were probably left in the shelter while the mother went hunting; it is quite possible that, after growing older, the Cubs were also taken on these "excursions".
Tasmanian tigers mainly fed on Kangaroos, small rodents and birds. According to some reports, these unique carnivorous mammals used hunting tactics to chase prey over long distances until it was exhausted.
They became notorious for killing the sheep of European settlers, who had begun to raise farms near their natural habitat (Tasmania was not colonized by the British until the 19th century). This led to the persecution of Tasmanian tigers and the decimation of their numbers.
By 1910, the tiger had already been listed as endangered, and the last specimen of Thylacinus cynocephalus apparently died in captivity in 1936 at Hobart Zoo. "Scientists from the Universities of Melbourne and Texas have successfully revived a gene of the completely extinct tasmanian tiger species. This success does not equate to the resurrection of a dinosaur, but it is a very important advance in the study of animals considered extinct for eternity.”
