thylacine

[thahy-luh-sahyn, -sin] /ˈθaɪ ləˌsaɪn, -sɪn/
noun
1.
a wolflike marsupial, Thylacinus cynocephalus, of Tasmania, tan-colored with black stripes across the back: probably extinct.
Also called Tasmanian wolf.
Origin
1830-40; < Neo-Latin Thylacinus genus name, equivalent to thylac- (< Greek thȳ́lakos pouch) + -īnus -ine1
Examples from the web for thylacine
  • The thylacine probably did not hunt exactly as other ambushers do, though.
  • The thylacine, with its twistable elbow, was more of an ambusher.
British Dictionary definitions for thylacine

thylacine

/ˈθaɪləˌsaɪn/
noun
1.
an extinct or very rare doglike carnivorous marsupial, Thylacinus cynocephalus, of Tasmania, having greyish-brown fur with dark vertical stripes on the back: family Dasyuridae Also called Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian wolf
Word Origin
C19: from New Latin thӯlacīnus, from Greek thulakos pouch, sack
Encyclopedia Article for thylacine

Tasmanian tiger

largest carnivorous marsupial of recent times, presumed extinct soon after the last captive individual died in 1936. A slender fox-faced animal that hunted at night for wallabies and birds, the thylacine was 100 to 130 cm (39 to 51 inches) long, including its 50- to 65-cm (20- to 26-inch) tail. Weight ranged from 15 to 30 kg (33 to 66 pounds), but about 25 kg was average. The fur was yellowish brown, with 13 to 19 dark bars on the back and rump. The hind legs were longer than the forelegs, and the tail was very thick at the base, tapering evenly to a point. The skull was remarkably similar to that of a dog but had characteristics diagnostic of a marsupial. Other differences include a smaller braincase and jaws with an enormous, almost 90-degree gape. In a shallow pouch that opened rearward, the female carried two to four young at a time.

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