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Tasmanian Tiger: Difference between revisions
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Descriptions of the Tasmanian Tiger come from preserved specimens, fossil records, skins and skeletal remains, and black and white photographs of the animal, both in captivity and in the wild. It resembled a large, short-haired dog with a stiff tail (similar to a kangaroo's tail). An adult could reach about 100 to 130 cm (39 to 51 in.) long, in addition to a tail of around 50 to 65 cm (20 to 26 in.) and stood at a height of around 60 cm (24 in.) There was slight [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_dimorphism sexual dimorphism], with the males being larger than females: Males weighed on average 19.7 kilograms (43 lbs.) and females on average weighed 13.7 kilograms (30 lbs.). Its coat was made up of dense but soft fur, featured 15 to 20 distinctive dark stripes across its back, rump and the base of its tail (hence the nickname "tiger"). Coloration varied from light fawn to a dark brown, but all had a cream-colored belly. | Descriptions of the Tasmanian Tiger come from preserved specimens, fossil records, skins and skeletal remains, and black and white photographs of the animal, both in captivity and in the wild. It resembled a large, short-haired dog with a stiff tail (similar to a kangaroo's tail). An adult could reach about 100 to 130 cm (39 to 51 in.) long, in addition to a tail of around 50 to 65 cm (20 to 26 in.) and stood at a height of around 60 cm (24 in.) There was slight [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_dimorphism sexual dimorphism], with the males being larger than females: Males weighed on average 19.7 kilograms (43 lbs.) and females on average weighed 13.7 kilograms (30 lbs.). Its coat was made up of dense but soft fur, featured 15 to 20 distinctive dark stripes across its back, rump and the base of its tail (hence the nickname "tiger"). Coloration varied from light fawn to a dark brown, but all had a cream-colored belly. | ||
[[File:Thylacine cubs.jpg|thumb|left|Thylacine mother with her three cubs at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumaris_Zoo Beaumaris Zoo] in Hobart, circa1909. Photo by Unknown photographer.]] | |||
[[File:Thylacines.jpg|thumb|left|The same family in 1910. Photo by Unknown Photographer.]] | |||
They most likely preferred dry eucalyptus forests, wetlands, and grasslands of mainland Australia. Physical proof of the tiger's existence in the mainland came from a body that was discovered in a cave in the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia in 1990. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dating Carbon dating] of the body revealed it to be around 3,000 years old. Meanwhile in Tasmania, it preferred the woodlands of the midlands and coastal regions. The stripes on the body helped with camouflage in the wooded areas. A typical territory range was between 40 and 80 km2 (15 and 31 sq mi). However they were not aggressive with boundaries; groups far too large to be a family unit were sometimes observed together. | They most likely preferred dry eucalyptus forests, wetlands, and grasslands of mainland Australia. Physical proof of the tiger's existence in the mainland came from a body that was discovered in a cave in the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia in 1990. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dating Carbon dating] of the body revealed it to be around 3,000 years old. Meanwhile in Tasmania, it preferred the woodlands of the midlands and coastal regions. The stripes on the body helped with camouflage in the wooded areas. A typical territory range was between 40 and 80 km2 (15 and 31 sq mi). However they were not aggressive with boundaries; groups far too large to be a family unit were sometimes observed together. | ||
There is evidence for at least some year-round breeding, the prime breeding season was winter and spring. Litters of two to four joeys would be carried in the mother's pouch for about three months. Once they left the pouch, the young would remain in the den until they were old enough to hunt. There has only been one successful captive breeding: in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Zoo Melbourne Zoo] in 1899. | |||
|trivia=[[File:Coat of arms of Tasmania.svg|thumb|right| The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Tasmania Coat of Arms of Tasmania], featuring Tasmanian Tigers/Thylacines. The Latin phrase ''Ubertas et Fidelitas'' means "Fertility and Faithfulness".]] | |trivia=[[File:Coat of arms of Tasmania.svg|thumb|right| The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Tasmania Coat of Arms of Tasmania], featuring Tasmanian Tigers/Thylacines. The Latin phrase ''Ubertas et Fidelitas'' means "Fertility and Faithfulness".]] | ||
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* Rovinsky, Douglass S.; Evans, Alistair R.; Martin, Damir G.; Adams, Justin W. (2020). "Did the thylacine violate the costs of carnivory? Body mass and sexual dimorphism of an iconic Australian marsupial". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 287 (20201537). doi:10.1098/rspb.2020.1537. PMC 7482282. PMID 32811303. | * Rovinsky, Douglass S.; Evans, Alistair R.; Martin, Damir G.; Adams, Justin W. (2020). "Did the thylacine violate the costs of carnivory? Body mass and sexual dimorphism of an iconic Australian marsupial". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 287 (20201537). doi:10.1098/rspb.2020.1537. PMC 7482282. PMID 32811303. | ||
* Dixon, Joan. "Fauna of Australia chap.20 vol.1b" (PDF). Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2006. | * Dixon, Joan. "Fauna of Australia chap.20 vol.1b" (PDF). Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2006. | ||
* Paddle (2000), pp. 228–231 | |||
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