The last known photograph of the Thylacine
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The Thylacine (binomial name: Thylacinus cynocephalus; Greek for "dog-headed pouched one") 
was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. It is commonly known as the 
Tasmanian Tiger (because of its striped back), the Tasmanian Wolf, and colloquially the 
Tassie (or Tazzy) Tiger or simply the Tiger. Native to continental Australia, Tasmania 
and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the 20th century. It was the last 
extant member of its genus, Thylacinus, although several related species have been found 
in the fossil record dating back to the early Miocene.

The Thylacine became extinct on the Australian mainland thousands of years before European 
settlement of the continent, but it survived on the island state of Tasmania along with 
several other endemic species, including the Tasmanian Devil. Intensive hunting encouraged 
by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors may 
have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. 
Despite its official classification as extinct, sightings are still reported, though none 
proven.

Like the tigers and wolves of the Northern Hemisphere, from which it obtained two of its 
common names, the Thylacine was an apex predator. As a marsupial, it was not related to 
these placental mammals, but because of convergent evolution it displayed the same general 
form and adaptations. Its closest living relative is thought to be either the Tasmanian 
Devil or Numbat.

The Thylacine was one of only two marsupials to have a pouch in both sexes (the other 
being the Water Opossum). The male Thylacine had a pouch that acted as a protective 
sheath, protecting the male's external reproductive organs while running through thick 
brush.

The modern Thylacine first appeared about 4 million years ago. Species of the Thylacinidae 
family date back to the beginning of the Miocene; since the early 1990s, at least seven 
fossil species have been uncovered at Riversleigh, part of Lawn Hill National Park in 
northwest Queensland. Dickson's Thylacine (Nimbacinus dicksoni) is the oldest of the seven 
discovered fossil species, dating back to 23 million years ago. This thylacinid was much 
smaller than its more recent relatives. The largest species, the Powerful Thylacine 
(Thylacinus potens) which grew to the size of a wolf, was the only species to survive 
into the late Miocene. In late Pleistocene and early Holocene times, the modern 
Thylacine was widespread (although never numerous) throughout Australia and New Guinea.

An example of convergent evolution, the Thylacine showed many similarities to the members 
of the Canidae (dog) family of the Northern Hemisphere: sharp teeth, powerful jaws, raised 
heels and the same general body form. Since the Thylacine filled the same ecological niche 
in Australia as the dog family did elsewhere, it developed many of the same features. 
Despite this, it is unrelated to any of the Northern Hemisphere predators.