Marsupial in wolfs clothing: More secrets discovered about the extinct Tasmanian tiger
(Artdaily.org)

Researchers from Museums Victoria and the University of Melbourne have CT scanned all 13 known Tasmanian tiger joey specimens to create 3D digital models which have allowed them to study their skeletons and internal organs, and reconstruct their growth and development. This has revealed important new information about how this unique extinct marsupial evolved to look so similar to the dingo, despite being very distantly related. The digital scans show that when first born the Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) looked like any other marsupial. But three months later, when they left the pouch they had taken on the appearance of a puppy and continued to grow with a dog-like appearance. The research, led by the University of Melbourne and Museums Victoria and in conjunction with an international team of scientists, is publis