Immunological Insights into the Life and Times of the Extinct Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)

The thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was Australia's largest marsupial carnivore until its extinction within the last century. There remains considerable interest and debate regarding the biology of this species. Studies of thylacine biology are now limited to preserved specimens, and parts...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2015-12, Vol.10 (12), p.e0144091-e0144091
Main Author: Old, Julie M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Animal behavior
Animals
Art galleries & museums
Australia
Biology
Bone Marrow - anatomy & histology
Breastfeeding & lactation
Ecology
Endangered & extinct species
Extinction
Extinction, Biological
Female
Fossils - anatomy & histology
Immune System - physiology
Immunity
Immunology
Kidney - anatomy & histology
Liver - anatomy & histology
Lungs
Lymphoid Tissue - anatomy & histology
Lymphoid Tissue - immunology
Male
Marsupialia - anatomy & histology
Marsupialia - immunology
Marsupials
Microtomy - veterinary
Morphology
Phylogeny
Siblings
Species extinction
Spleen - anatomy & histology
Thylacinidae
Thylacinus cynocephalus
Thymus Gland - anatomy & histology
Thymus Gland - immunology
Tissues
Weaning
Zoos
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Summary:The thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was Australia's largest marsupial carnivore until its extinction within the last century. There remains considerable interest and debate regarding the biology of this species. Studies of thylacine biology are now limited to preserved specimens, and parts thereof, as well as written historical accounts of its biology. This study describes the development of the immune tissues of a pouch young thylacine, one of only eleven in existence, and the only specimen to be histologically sectioned. The appearance of the immune tissue of the developing pouch young thylacine is compared to the immune tissues of extant marsupials, providing insights into the immunity, biology and ecology of the extinct thylacine.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0144091