Thylecin remains extinct, but we still have pedomelons

There was a bit of excitement someline yesterday as word spread that the family of Thalassins was possibly caught on camera. Thylesin, also known as Tasmanian hair, became extinct decades ago, so a sure look can certainly be a cause for celebration. Unfortunately, Nick Mooney, a wildlife biologist at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), reviewed the photos and determined that “the animals are very unlikely to be thylacines, and probably Tas Tasmanian padmelon,” the spokesman said.

This is not the first time a potential thylacine has become a peduncle or a Mars fox. While there have been reports of thalassemia being found, no one has been confirmed since 1936. According to TMAG, the museum “regularly receives verification requests from members of the public who hope that thylacine is still with us.”

As the last captive thylacine, seen in this 1935 video of Benjamin, the animals had a variety of characteristics, including striped rods and stiff tails. Still, it’s not hard to imagine an optimistic observer looking at photosynthesis in photos of other animals.

Just as we mourn the thylacine once again, so too can we admire the live Tasmanian Padmelon. The small, bushy-nocturnal nocturnal lab lab was once part of the carnivorous thylacine diet. They are now extinct in mainland Australia, but still thrive in Tasmania, and their continued existence deserves some celebration.

Take a moment to catch your eye on the grandeur of these (verified) photos and videos of Pedamelons. Enjoy!

Photo by Dave Watts / Gamma-Rafo by Getty Images

Photo by Getty Images by Getty Martin / Gamma-Rafo