Thylacine Skull Mystery: Fearsome Predator or Agile Hunter of Small Prey?

The thylacine, or Tasmanian wolf, long carried the reputation of a ruthless predator of livestock. However, a new 3D analysis of the extinct marsupial's skull suggests that its jaw was built for agility and small prey rather than the brute force required to take down sheep. Researchers led by Vera Weissbecker used computer tomography and 3D modeling to compare thylacine skulls with dozens of modern and extinct mammals. The findings revealed a strange anatomical mismatch: while the animal averaged about 17 kg, its skull size matched predators weighing between 24.5 and 66.7 kg, such as pumas, leopards, and grey wolves. The most distinct feature discovered was the "terminal rosette"—a widening of the skull around the canines at the end of a long, slender snout. This specific structure was not found in any of the other mammal groups studied.