This animal has a lot of names, but that's him is not seen on Earth.Beast called "Tasmanian marsupial wolf", "tilatsin", "Wolfshead possum" and even "zebra wolf."By surviving photographs show that the animal's head and body in common with the gray predator of our forests and tiger dubbed him because of clear cross-black and brown stripes on the back and sides.But a more detailed study is evident that the shape of the ears and snout, tail and hind legs very bent extinct animal is more like a marsupial, and the skin on the belly bag eliminates this issue all doubts.So what do we know now about this mysterious being?
Tilatsin as a species appeared about 35 million. Years ago in the north of the South American continent.After a while he settled the whole continent, entered the Antarctica (which at that time was not covered with ice), and through it was in New Guinea, Tasmania and Australia.About 8 million. Years ago, South and North America united, and the Golden Age ended tilatsina from the north came placental animals and marsupials as more primitive, they had to retreat.With climate change, the form became extinct in Antarctica.About seven thousand years ago (this is the age have its most recent fossils) marsupial carnivore disappeared in New Guinea - probably due to a viral infection.About two thousand years ago the aborigines of Australia delivered a dingo dog, which destroyed the population tilatsinov the Green continent.
As a result, when the first Europeans came to Australia, the marsupial wolf survived only in Tasmania.Europeans first-convicts are not very oppressed by this animal.However, with the beginning of breeding sheep of the largest marsupial predator brought people into the "black list".Wolves began to mercilessly destroy.On top of all fatalities in the early twentieth century on the island of the pandemic broke out canine distemper to which tilatsiny proved too susceptible.Despite the fact that after the disease survived some individuals, this was not an endangered species listed by state law on the protection of fauna 1928 in the list of protected animals.The last wild wolf was killed in 1930, and in 1936 in the Australian city of Hobart zoo died of old age last wolf living in captivity.
And only with the death of the last instance on the planet Tasmanian tiger humanity alarmed: in 1938, was banned hunting for it.Despite the fact that from time to time there are reports that similar beast seen, heard, found traces of his feet and so on. E., The marsupial wolf officially declared extinct.But just in case, in 1963 the Tasmanian government organized a reserve around Lake St. Clair.With the development of genetic engineering has revived hopes to "revive" sunk into oblivion tilatsina.In 1999 he began work on decoding the DNA of the animal.Experiments aimed at the possibility of cloning animals, are ongoing but have not yet yielded any results.
Today we have a description of the appearance of the animal but the photos are not very good quality.Thylacine resembled a medium-sized dog sandy color.Slow gait beast moved like a dog, and rode at a fast run, like a kangaroo.And strange animals was amazing fall she swung open 120 degrees!Tilatsinov teeth was more than a wolf, and the strength of the jaw has been able to break the bones of prey.Tasmanian tiger ate mainly possums, small kangaroos, reptiles and birds.
Thylacine its exponential fate does not cease to torment the conscience of mankind.People refuse to believe that this animal has left us forever.There is still a glimmer of hope that the bitter experience of communicating with people predator still lives in remote mountainous forests of Tasmania.Ted Turner, American publisher, has offered a reward of one hundred thousand dollars to anyone who will be able to catch the live tilatsina.The Bulletin magazine recently raised the cost of awards to 1.25 million Australian dollars.
