Thylacine Skull

THYLACINE

Thylacinus cynocephalus

   
PAGE INDEX
1. Lateral view
2. Oblique view 
3. Upper teeth
4. Details
5. Web Links & Refs

Tasmanian, also known as the marsupial or pouched wolf, now almost certainly extinct. An example either of convergent evolution, or God moving in an exceptionally mysterious way.

TAXONOMY
Order - Marsupialia 
(marsupials !)
Family - Dasyuridae 
(a group of 
marsupial carnivores)

Dental Formula : 4.1.3.4 / 3.1.3.4 (Only 3 upper molars can be seen in this specimen, but the lower 4th molar is only partially erupted, and the animal must therefore have been immature.)

1.Thylacine Skull, lateral view.

1.Thylacine Skull, oblique frontal view.

1.Thylacine Skull, view of upper teeth. The molars can be seen to be undifferentiated, supposedly a primitive feature. (Look at the fox or badger skulls and see how the cheek teeth are adapted to different functions, e.g. shearing carnassials and grinding rear molars). Also note the four upper incisors, a high number, also thought to be a primitive feature - how many do modern carnivores such as fox & badger have ?

Details of Specimens Illustrated

All Images: Thylacine Thylacinus cynocephalus; Stage - immature; Source - Photo Courtesy of the School of Biology Museum, Leeds University.
Scientific Name : Thylacinus - From Greek words, "thylakos" a pouch, and "cynus" a dog. cynocephalus - Greek words meaning "dog-headed"

Web Links & References: Australian Museums Page; The Thylacine Museum Extremely comprehensive, if rather precious, review of every aspect of thylacine biology and ecology. Good photos, including perfect skulls, and film clips of live thylacines, but an extremely annoying popup which appears if you dare to press CTRL while viewing the site and prevents you from, for instance, copying the url; but provides a useful insight into the author's estimate of his importance.
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	1.Thylacine Skull, lateral view.
	1.Thylacine Skull, oblique frontal view.
	1.Thylacine Skull, view of upper teeth. The molars can be seen to be undifferentiated, supposedly a primitive feature. (Look at the fox or badger skulls and see how the cheek teeth are adapted to different functions, e.g. shearing carnassials and grinding rear molars). Also note the four upper incisors, a high number, also thought to be a primitive feature - how many do modern carnivores such as fox & badger have ?