Abstract
The thylacine, the world's largest Recent marsupial predator, occupies a special position within cryptozoology. On the one hand, it is known to have been extant in Tasmania until the 1930's, and few would be really surprised if it were rediscovered alive. It is thus in a class separate from the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster. On the other hand, the many searches made for it, and the innumerable reported sightings, put it on a par with other "mystery" animals.