title: Immunological Insights into the Life and Times of the Extinct Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Water and Wildlife Ecology, School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Old
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008867:Microtomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology