The Tasmanian Tiger-Wolf (Thylacinus cynocephalus)was neither a tiger or a wolf, rather it was more like a kangaroo. The Tasmanian tiger-wolf was a canivorous marsupial; it had a pouch for its young just like a kangaroo. Marsupials are found almost exclusively in Australia and certain surrounding islands such as Tasmania. They died out in most of the rest of the world.

The Tasmanian tiger-wolf became extinct on the mainland of Australia long ago because it could not compete for food with an introduced species, the dingo, a kind of wild dog. Tiger-wolves continued to thrive on the dingo-free island of Tasmania off Australia's south coast until Europeans arrived in the region and settlers began clearing the tiger-wolf's habitat for sheep farming. Habitat destruction reduced the natural prey available to tiger-wolves and therefore forcing them to kill domestic sheep for food. The tiger-wolf was poisoned, shot, snared, hunted with dogs and trapped, to prevent them from preying on the livestocks.

An unknown disease wiped out the remaining population in 1910. By 1933 it was believed that the species had become extinct in the wild. In 1936, the last known Tasmanian tiger-wolf died in captivity.

Although the species was believed extinct, reports of tiger-wolves in the wild continued. The species received protection from the Australian government, and the search to find any remaining tiger-wolves began. Expeditions in the 1930s, 40s and 60s found no Tasmanian tiger-wolves. However, possible evidence that the species was not extinct surfaced when it was claimed that a young male tiger-wolf had been accidentally killed on the west coast of Tasmania in 1961. Five years later, 1.6 million acres in Tasmania were declared a sanctuary for any remaining tiger-wolves. The most comprehensive search yet for remaining Tasmanian tiger-wolves was completed in the 1980's.

No tiger-wolves were found.