Thylacine

The thylacine, Thylacinus cynocephalus, was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. It is commonly known as the tasmanian tiger (because of its striped lower back) or the tasmanian wolf. Native to continental Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, it is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century. It was the last extant member of its family, Thylacinidae; specimens of other members of the family have been found in the fossil record dating back to the late Oligocene.

The thylacine had become extremely rare or extinct on the Austrailian mainland before British settlement of the continent, but it survived on the island of Tasmania along with several other endemic species, including the Tasmianian devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by Bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributing 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 has been conclusively proven.
________________________________________________________
To check out my other Prehistoric or extinct creatures CLICK HERE

_{Painted on Photoshop CS5.}

Please feel free to ask any questions about this or my gallery as long as it's polite.

To keep up to date with my paintings, animations and news please take a look at the links below:
                                           
                                                         

Deviantart Twitter Youtube
Tumblr Newgrounds Facebook