The Tasmanian tiger was hunted to extinction as a 'large predator' – but it was only half as heavy as we thought
![The Tasmanian tiger was hunted to extinction as a 'large predator' – but it was only half as heavy as we thought](https://images.theconversation.com/files/353505/original/file-20200818-25336-1juy7u9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip)
The “Tasmanian tiger” was hunted to extinction based on its perceived size as a predator big enough to take sheep. But it seems this was just a tall tale, and the thylacine weighed just 16.7kg.
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Tasmanian tiger could be resurrected from extinction
![](https://www.ripleys.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/staged-tiger.jpg)
The Extinct Tasmanian Tiger: a Carnivorous Marsupial Ghost
![](http://messybeast.com/extinct/thylacine6.jpg)
thylacine
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Thylacine_harris_cropped.jpg/220px-Thylacine_harris_cropped.jpg)
Thylacine - Wikipedia
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The Complete Guide to Marsupials in Tasmania — Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
![](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/12/12/gettyimages-558234343_sq-b5157c358aacba4b06d7d0579b753cdd35dea650-s800-c85.jpg)
Tasmanian tiger: The plan to bring 'a dingo with a pouch' back from extinction : NPR
![](http://messybeast.com/extinct/thylacine3.jpg)
thylacine
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/200519090530-01-thylacine-tasmanian-tiger-grab.jpg?q=w_1600,h_1072,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
Tasmanian tigers were small but not fierce predators. Then they went extinct
Is there any solid evidence that the Tasmanian tiger is not extinct? - Quora
![](https://www.stokedforsaturday.com/stoked-content/uploads/2015/07/0W5A4652.jpg)
Tasmania's Unique Wildlife - Stoked for Saturday
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The Complete Guide to Marsupials in Tasmania — Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
![](https://images.theconversation.com/files/395987/original/file-20210420-17-4hmty5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip)
Like a jackal in wolf's clothing: the Tasmanian tiger was no wolfish predator — it hunted small prey
![](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Aboriginal_Art_Australia2.jpg)
Cave paintings reveal what extinct animals may have looked like