Daily Dose of Prehistory: Back From Extinction 113

Thylacinus cynocephalus, otherwise known as the Thylacine, the Tasmanian Tiger, or the Tasmanian Wolf was one of the largest marsupial predators to ever inhabit Australia until its extinction in 1936 when the last living member died in captivity in Beaumaris Zoo. In life it was an apex predator, hunting prey in a pursuit predator fashion, much like humans and African Wild Dogs, using their jaws (which could open a massive 120°) to deliver killing blows, usually to throats but on sheep this was done to the skull much like jaguars. Their extinction is well known, frequently attributed to farmers killing them for slaughtering their livestock (admittedly easy prey for Thylacines) but was likely also due to disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment on their habitat though to this day there are sightings of them in Tasmania, suggesting they may yet still live after all.

Tasmanian here. Over 1/3 of the state is unexplored, so there is a possibility of there being a pocket of Tas Tigers alive somewhere. Every now and then there is a "sighting". I've heard farmers say they have seen them and don't report it because they don't want the media circus.