Threatened Species Day

© Australian Museum

Today is National Threatened Species Day. This date commemorates the anniversary of the extinction of the thylacine. The last thylacine died in a Hobart Zoo in 1936.

The thylacine was a large marsupial with a large dog-like head. Females had a pouch, opening at the back. She would have up to four young in a litter. Even males had a partial pouch.

The thylacine’s fur was a yellow-brown colour. Across its back, were about 18 dark stripes. It had a short, stiff tail and short legs. Its jaws were powerful, filled with about 46 teeth. It is believed that thylacines hunted kangaroos and other marsupials as well as birds.

The thylacine lived all over Australia. After many thousands of years of existence, it was eventually only found in Tasmania. The severe reduction in population and ultimate extinction is most likely a direct result of humans.

In Australia in the past 200 years, about 17 mammals have become extinct. Australia has the highest rate of animal extinction in the world.