Thylacinus cynocephalus

Geographic Range

Although Tasmanian wolves (also known as Tasmanian tigers or thylacines) are considered extinct, their original prehistoric range was thought to extend throughout much of mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea. This range has been confirmed through various cave drawings, such as those found by Wright in 1972, and bone collections that have been radiocarbon dated to 180 years before present. Tasmanian wolves are now considered extinct. Thylacines were last known to inhabit Tasmania, where they were hunted to extinction.

• Biogeographic Regions
• australian australian
  • native native

• Other Geographic Terms
• island endemic island endemic

Habitat

Although the preferred habitat of Tasmanian wolves was never thoroughly described, remains have been collected throughout Australasian coastal regions. From colonial times until their extinction, Tasmanian wolves were found throughout Tasmania. They were most often seen in hilly country, resting during the day in forest and scrub, and hunt during the afternoon and evening in bordering thickets. Other descriptions suggest Tasmanian wolves were found in forested areas and grasslands. These observations may not represent the native preferences, though, because Tasmanian wolves were actively persecuted during this time and that may have effected their behavior. The last remaining populations were restricted to dense rainforests in Tasmania. Tasmanian wolf lairs were located mainly in hollow logs or rock outcroppings located in hilly areas that were adjacent to open areas, such as grasslands.

• Habitat Regions
• temperate temperate
• terrestrial terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
• rainforest rainforest
• scrub forest scrub forest

• Wetlands
• marsh marsh

• Other Habitat Features
• suburban suburban
• agricultural agricultural
• riparian riparian

Physical Description

Tasmanian wolves had an overall body length of approximately 1230 to 1950 mm, measuring 990 to 1295 mm from the nose to the base of the tail, which measures an additional 508 to 660 mm. They ranged from 350 to 600 mm tall at the shoulders and weighed from 15 to 30 kg. Males were slightly larger than females.

Tasmanian wolf body structure closely resembles that of eutherian wolves and relatives . However, Tasmanian wolves are marsupials and have a pouch (which is rear opening). Their coat was short and dense and grey or yellow-brown and marked with 13 to 19 dark transverse stripes beginning behind the shoulder blades, gradually increasing in both length and width (Moeller 1968). They also had strong, thick tails (Thomas 1888). They had relatively narrow snouts with, on average, 24 sensory whiskers (Lyne 1959). They had whitish markings around the eyes and on the base of the ears, as well on the area around the upper lip (Le Souef and Burrell 1926). They had strong jaws with 46 teeth specialized for carnivory (Archer 1976c). Their paws were fitted with non-retractable claws that aided in their digitigrade locomotion (Pocock 1926). They were also capable of occasional “sole walking," or bipedal hopping, similar to kangaroos (Gunn 1863). The dental formula was i 4/3, c 1/1, pm 3/3, m 4/4. Tasmanian wolves had long canines, shearing premolars, and grinding molars, all of which are quite similar to those of dogs. In females, the pouch was located by the tail and had a fold of skin covering the four mammae.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• homoiothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• male larger
• ornamentation ornamentation

Reproduction

Tasmanian wolves were elusive animals and mating patterns were not well-documented. Guiler (1926) speculated about breeding behaviors based on bounty records. He documented that only one pair of male and female adult Tasmanian wolves were ever captured or killed together. This led Guiler to assume that they only came together for mating and were otherwise solitary. However, it may also indicate monogamy.

Although there is relatively little data on their behavior, Guiler (1961) used bounty records to estimate breeding season. Although “half growns” (and their mothers) were taken during every season, the highest numbers of post pouch young were taken in May, July, August, and September. He estimated that the breeding season lasted approximately 4 months and was separated by a gap of 2 months. It is thought that a female would begin breeding in autumn and could have a second litter of young after the first was weaned. Other sources indicate births may have occurred continously throughout the year but were concentrated in the summer months (December-March). Gestation period is unknown, but it is believed that the young (usually 2-4) stayed in the pouch for about 3 months and remained with the mother for another 6 months.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• fertilization fertilization
• viviparous viviparous

Tasmanian wolf females invested significantly in their young. They were documented caring for 3 to 4 young carried by the mother in her rear-facing pouch until they were no longer able to fit there. While in the pouch, the young were nursed in the pouch on her 4 teats. Juveniles are thought to remain with their mothers until they were at least half grown.

• Parental Investment
• altricial altricial
• female parental care female parental care
• pre-fertilization
  • provisioning
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-hatching/birth
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-independence
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• extended period of juvenile learning

Lifespan/Longevity

The lifespan of Tasmanian wolves is largely unknown. The record for Tasmanian wolf longevity in captivity was a female with the approximate age of 12 years and 7 months, spending 9.5 of those years in captivity. Based on individuals in captivity it is estimated that the lifespan of a wild Tasmanian wolf was 8 to 10 years.

Behavior

Le Souef and Burrell (1926) noted that while pacing, the animal would hold its head low like that of a hound on scent, and would pause abruptly to monitor its surroundings with its head held high. They also noted that these animals are rather docile around humans; paying little attention to yard attendants who would clean the cages with Tasmanian wolves in them. This was thought to be because Tasmanian wolves are half blinded by the sunlight; most of the time during the brightest part of the day they would retreat to their inner dens (as depicted by both ancient mummified remains from coastal caves, and captive habitats) where they would curl up like a dog, however they would also seek out sunlight on occasion to bask in, a truly strange characteristic for a semi-nocturnal animal. While sleeping the Tasmanian wolves would lie on their side fully extended, with its upward ear fully erect.

As for locomotion, it was documented in 1863 by Gunn that a female Tasmanian wolf once jumped effortlessly to the top of its cage rafters, a good 6-8 feet in the air. Moeller was the one to take notes on Tasmanian wolves distinctive methods of locomotion. The first was a plantar walk, common to most mammals, where diagonally opposite limbs move alternatively, but what was different about Tasmanian wolves was that they would use their entire foot, allowing the long heel to touch the ground. This method is not particularly well suited for running; Tasmanian wolves have been noted loping around its pen allowing only the pads of its feet to touch the floor. The other method was a bi-pedal hop, when the animal stands on its hind limbs with its front limbs in the air, using its tail for balance. It is said to take on a kangaroo-like appearance when it hops short distances.

Tasmanian wolves were quite docile around humans and there are very few documented attacks. These only occurred when Tasmanian wolves were startled by light, rapid movement, or when backed into a corner. It is noted that Tasmanian wolves do possess considerable strength. It is suggested that Tasmanian wolves track their prey considerable distances until their prey was fatigued, and then capture it in a sudden rush, making these marsupials nomadic. The Tasmanian wolves only eat what they kill and were selective in the parts it consumed.

• Key Behaviors
• terricolous
• troglophilic
• saltatorial saltatorial
• motile motile
• nomadic nomadic

Home Range

Reports of Tasmanian wolves have come in various forms spanning thousands of years. From depictions of them in cave paintings and Australasia sightings, specifying a natural home range is quite difficult. Most of the remains of Tasmanian wolves were found in caves near the coast line, primary spots of persecution yeild low documented numbers. This however may be the work of human interaction, because the anatomy of the Tasmanian wolves is thought to be better suited for travelling long distances in order to kill prey.

Communication and Perception

Although Tasmanian wolves are relatively solitary creatures, vocalizations have been documented when they are disturbed or excited. Gould noted in 1863 that when disturbed, Tasmanian wolves would dash about making short guttural cries close to those of barks. It was noted by Le Souef and Burrell (1926) that when excited they would make a series of husky, coughing barks, with wheezing on the inhale.

The skull of the Tasmanian wolves reveals an enlarged sinus cavity hypothesized to account for its great sense of smell, which is primarily used in hunting. Since these marsupials are semi-nocturnal, the use of sight is a necessity; the quality of its sight however, is another matter. In captivity, the Tasmanian wolves are documented ignoring potential threats (such as zoo personnel) and seeking shelter from the sun regardless of temperature. Its been noted that Tasmanian wolves exhibit vibrissae on its muzzle similar to the placental wolf.

• Communication Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• chemical chemical

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

Some of the earliest data depicts the consumption of echidnas (Troughton 1967) regardless of the difficulty to do so. Australian bushman have discovered Tasmanian wolf dens that were half filled with bones, including those belonging to livestock animals such as calves and sheep. The possibility of these animals being scavenged (although unlikely) still exists. It has been witnessed that in the wild, this marsupial will only eat what it kills, and it never will return to the site of a kill. In captivity Tasmanian wolves ate meat (Gunn 1863). It was also found during the inspection of livestock kills, that Tasmanian wolves would consume only specific parts of the animal. Due to this the myth arose that they preferred to drink blood. However other parts of these animals were consumed, such as liver and kidney fat, nasal tissues, and some muscle tissues. Through various bone samples of Tasmanian wolf dens, its native prey included wallabies , potoroos , and bettongs .

• Primary Diet
• carnivore carnivore
  • eats terrestrial vertebrates
  • sanguivore sanguivore

• Animal Foods
• birds
• mammals
• blood

• Foraging Behavior
• stores or caches food stores or caches food

Predation

Of all the marsupial carnivores in the Australasia region, Tasmanian wolves were the largest. It was also one of the most well adapted and the most skilled hunters. With origins dating back to prehistoric times, Tasmanian wolves were considered one of the top predators in the food chain, making predation of this animal unlikely. Regardless, Tasmanian wolves have become classified as extinct due to predation my humans. Through the documentation of government sanctioned bounty hunts and historic personal accounts, a portrait of animal persecution is readily apparent. Through the late 18th century to early 19th century, the mass killing of what we considered to be “pests,” claimed nearly its entire population. The competition from human introduced invasive species such as the dingo , and the destruction of natural Tasmanian wolf territories, pushed the animal past its breaking point. This resulted in the extinction of one of Australia’s most amazing predatory marsupials.

• Anti-predator Adaptations
• cryptic cryptic

Ecosystem Roles

Tasmanian wolves were the largest marsupial carnivore and were at the top of the food chain. With this position in mind, Tasmanian wolves would keep other prey populations within reasonable limits. One such species is the wallaby (one of the Tasmanian wolves hypothesized food sources), whose populations have risen dramatically.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Tasmanian wolves were a primary source of income for many trappers during the years of their persecution. There are multiple documented cases of payouts to those able to capture and or kill these creatures. Captured Tasmanian wolves were transported to zoos as far as New York City.

• Positive Impacts
• body parts are source of valuable material
• ecotourism ecotourism
• research and education

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Tasmanian wolves were thought to be the source of many agricultural problems for Australian settlers. Sheep herds were thought to be mutilated by Tasmanian wolves. Humans however have attained minimal personal injury from their encounters with these creatures. Of the injuries on record were bites presumably a result of self-defense.

• Negative Impacts
• injures humans
  • bites or stings
• crop pest

Conservation Status

Other Comments

Benjamin, a female Tasmanian wolf was the name of the last known animal in captivity. She was one of three cubs, whom, with their mother, were captured and displayed at the Hobart Zoo in Australia. Benjamin was the last survivor of these cubs and lived to a record age of 12 years and 7 months. Today, she is not only known as the oldest living Tasmanian wolf, but is also the last.

Professor Archer, the current Dean of Science at the University of New South Wales and professor of paleontology, hypothesizes that it may be possible for a living Tasmanian wolf to be cloned using the DNA from an infant female specimen preserved in alcohol since 1866 at the Australian Museum. This however, would require considerably more effort than simply cloning large domesticated livestock.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Paul Treu (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Christopher Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Laura Podzikowski (editor), Special Projects.

References

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Archer, M. 1976. The dasyurid dentition and its relationships to that of didelphids, thylacinids, borhyaenids (Marsupicarnivora) and peramelids (Peramelina: Marsupialia). Pp. 39 in University of California publications in Geological Sciences , Vol. 131, 1 Edition. Los Angeles: University of California.

Archer, M. 1976. Miocene marsupicarnivores (Marsupialia) from central South Australia, Ankotarinja tirarensis gen. et sp. nov., Keeuna woodburnei gen. et sp. nov., and their significance in terms of early marsupial radiations. Pp. 54-73 in University of California publications in Geological Sciences , Vol. 131, 1 Edition. Los Angeles: University of California.

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