9. The Tasmanian Tiger Was a Tiger
The term “Tasmanian tiger” is a misnomer; the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was a carnivorous marsupial native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Despite its dog-like appearance and striped coat, it was not related to true tigers or any felines. Thylacines were more closely related to kangaroos and koalas than to dogs or cats (nationalgeographic.com). They were the largest known carnivorous marsupials of modern times, with a body length of 100 to 130 cm, including a stiff tail of about 50 cm. The last known individual died in captivity in 1936, and the species was declared extinct in 1982.
