Consider the following statements regarding the Tasmanian tiger: It is...
Recently, researchers have recovered Ribonucleic acid (RNA)from the desiccated skin and muscle of a Tasmanian tiger stored since 1891 at a museum in Stockholm.
- The Tasmanian tiger resembled a wolf, aside from the tiger-like stripes on its back.
- The last-known Tasmanian tiger succumbed in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936.
- It is a large carnivorous marsupial now believed to be extinct.
- It was the only member of the family Thylacinidae to survive into modern times.
- It was widespread over continental Australia, extending north to New Guinea and south to Tasmania.
- It is an apex predator that hunted kangaroos and other prey.
Hence both statements are correct
Consider the following statements regarding the Tasmanian tiger: It is...
The correct answer is option C, which means both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
1. It is a large carnivorous marsupial that belongs to the family Thylacinidae:
The Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine, was indeed a large carnivorous marsupial that belonged to the family Thylacinidae. It was native to Tasmania, an island state of Australia. The thylacine was the largest carnivorous marsupial of modern times and had some unique physical characteristics. It had a slim and elongated body, a head resembling that of a dog, and a stiff tail that was carried vertically. The animal had a pouch similar to other marsupials, but in females, the pouch faced towards the tail.
2. It was widely distributed in the Australian continent:
This statement is also true. While the Tasmanian tiger is most commonly associated with Tasmania, it was once found across mainland Australia as well. Fossil records indicate that thylacines were once distributed widely across the Australian continent, including areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. However, due to factors such as habitat loss and hunting, the species became extinct on the mainland around 3,000 years ago. After that, the thylacines survived only in Tasmania until their extinction in the early 20th century.
The Tasmanian tiger's extinction is often attributed to a combination of factors, including habitat destruction, competition with introduced species, and widespread hunting by humans. The animal was hunted extensively due to the belief that it posed a threat to livestock. In 1936, the last known thylacine died in captivity, and since then, there have been no confirmed sightings of the species in the wild.
In conclusion, the Tasmanian tiger was indeed a large carnivorous marsupial belonging to the family Thylacinidae. It was once widely distributed in the Australian continent, but is now extinct, with only preserved specimens and historical records remaining.