The Tasmanian tiger, a believed extinct mammal, still remains the center of attraction for many people. Enthusiastic persons are crazy to explore important facts about this marsupial.
Reports claim that the last known Tasmanian tiger perished in 1936. The creature is not a tiger and neither a wolf, but a carnivorous marsupial. Recent news about the unconfirmed sightings of this believed extinct creature creates a huge hullabaloo among the enthusiasts. Investigations are still on to know whether the species are still alive or not.
Every single fact about the Tasmanian tiger or the Thylacinus cynocephalus encourages people to explore many known and unknown important things. This creature is known as the largest carnivorous marsupial with a length between 39 inches to 51 inches. A thin tail of 20 to 26 inches and black stripes throughout the body give an amazing look to the animal.
Tasmanian tiger emerged on this earth almost four million years ago, according to the fossil evidence, Live Science reported. Sources from the National Museum of Australia reports that the marsupials disappeared from their main habitat, Australia, about 2000 years ago. Later Tasmania remained as the sole habitat of this mammal creature.
Different reports exist regarding the key cause of the Tasmanian tiger's disappearance. Stiff competition between the largest carnivorous marsupial and the dingos is the most accepted reason behind the extinction. Though contrary opinions are also visible. Dingos are the wild canines mainly appeared in Australia and some parts of the Southeast Asia.
Tasmanian tigers are carnivorous that means the meat is their staple food. So far very little research is done about their eating habits, but sources reveal that the marsupials mainly hunted sheep, wallabies and the kangaroos. But, a recent report published in the Journal of Zoology says the mammals had weak jaws so it was difficult for them to hunt sheep.
According to the Australian Government report, the Tasmanian tiger could be seized easily due to their timid nature. In a word, these marsupials were very quiet animals and interestingly, they had pouches to keep their babies with them. This believed extinct mammal had a unique lifestyle.
A group of researchers took part in the Thylacine Cloning Project at the Australian Museum. The team collected tissue samples from a female Tasmanian tiger that was preserved in the alcohol for more than 100 years. The researchers successfully extracted the DNA and in 2002 they were able to replicate the individual genes. However, the cloning project was canceled in 2005 due to the poor quality of the genes.
Currently, Tasmanian Tiger is an interesting subject of the textbook, though, searching is still on to have even a single glimpse of the creature. This rare carnivorous marsupial still haunts a lot of people. Any rare and known information about this animal plays a significant role to avail the detail of this creature.
