Where “Thylacine” Comes From
The thylacine, also called the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf, was a carnivorous marsupial with a dog-like body and stripes across its back. It once lived across mainland Australia and New Guinea, and survived longest in Tasmania.
The last known thylacine died in Hobart’s zoo in 1936. Hunting, habitat change and disease are thought to have contributed to its extinction.
“The thylacine died out in 1936.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in conservation talk, Tasmanian tourism and extinct-animal stories.
In Real Life
The thylacine is one of Australia’s most famous lost animals. Old film footage shows the last individuals pacing in captivity. Tasmanians still tell stories of sightings, and the animal appears on stamps, logos and souvenirs. Scientists continue to study its DNA. The date of the last animal’s death is marked each year as National Threatened Species Day.
Quick Questions
Is the Tasmanian tiger really extinct?
It’s officially considered extinct, despite occasional unconfirmed sighting reports.
Was it a tiger or a wolf?
Neither. It was a marsupial, named for its stripes and dog-like shape.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: THY-luh-seen.
In conversation:
- People still claim to see the thylacine.
- The thylacine had stripes on its back.
- The last thylacine died in captivity.
Good to know: The thylacine is officially extinct, but people still report sightings. National Threatened Species Day on 7 September marks the date the last known animal died.
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