thylacine: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 30, 2026

News •

Disbelief as Tasmanian Tiger head found under bed • Oct. 28, 2026, 2:15 AM ET (BBC)

Facts

Also Known As	Thylacinus cynocephalus • marsupial wolf • Tasmanian tiger • Tasmanian wolf

Photos and Videos

Illustration of a thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian wolf or Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus), showing a doglike animal with a slender body, brown fur, and distinct dark stripes across its back and tail. A scale bar above indicates size in centimeters and inches.

thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) and de-extinction

Illustrations of four extinct species: a dodo, a Tasmanian wolf or thylacine, a passenger pigeon, and a mamo, with the birds shown larger for detail. Scientific names are included.

parallel evolution of marsupial and placental mammals

What are the Different Types of Extinction?

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

wolf gray wolf extinction human-induced extinction Java stingaree Dodo moa sea cow elephant bird Passenger pigeon Great auk quagga aurochs mamo

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is seen in Switzerland on December 2024

Animal Factoids

Lion (panthera leo)

Deadliest Animals Quiz

Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) in the outback of Queensland, Australia. Marsupial

Know Your Marsupials Quiz