thylacine

[ thahy-luh-sahyn, -sin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a wolflike marsupial, Thylacinus cynocephalus, of Tasmania, tan-colored with black stripes across the back: probably extinct.

thylacine

/ ˈθaɪləˌsaɪn /

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 calledTasmanian tigerTasmanian wolf

1830–40; < New Latin Thylacinus genus name, equivalent to thylac- (< Greek thȳ́lakos pouch) + -īnus -ine ¹

C19: from New Latin thӯlacīnus, from Greek thulakos pouch, sack

It is of about the size of a Badger, and is, like the Thylacine, a nocturnal animal.

The extermination of the thylacine would be a zoological calamity; but it is impending.

The male Thylacine has a pouch which is quite or very nearly as well formed as in the female.

Among living mammals the Seals and the Thylacine all show some triconodont teeth.

But it is stated that the Thylacine is quite capable of keeping even a pack of dogs at bay.

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