X-rays Confirm Extinct Thylacine Head Authenticity in Auction Find

An accidental discovery at an auction house has yielded a significant find for the scientific community: a verified specimen of the extinct thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger.

X-rays of the taxidermied head, believed to have been preserved in the late 1800s, revealed a complete and intact skull beneath the stuffing. Natural history collector James Cranfield, who purchased the specimen, confirmed its authenticity with experts. He described it as "a discovery of a lifetime" and "the holy grail of natural history collecting."

“

It is indeed a thylacine. It has been confirmed by experts as being a genuine, previously undocumented, newly discovered specimen of the extinct Tasmanian tiger. It is a ridiculously important and special specimen. The most amazing thing is the absolute completeness and the almost perfect state of the skull within.

Cranfield recognized the specimen's potential rarity after examining its teeth, noting the distinct dental structure of marsupials compared to foxes or dogs. The head was initially listed as a fox's head in a UK auction, with an expected price of £30 to £50. However, following a competitive bidding war, Cranfield secured the thylacine for £62,600 (approximately $120,000), including auction fees.

The verified specimen will be added to the International Thylacine Specimen Database. ITSD director Steven Sleightholme confirmed the skull's authenticity, noting that while the specimen lacks provenance, its rarity is undeniable. This find is particularly important as only 16 thylacine specimens are currently held in private collections, with the rest housed in institutional repositories.

“

I am pleased to confirm the radiographs of the skull, particularly the dentition, establishes that your mounted taxidermied head is indeed that of a thylacine. It is unfortunate the specimen comes without any provenance, but nevertheless well done for recognizing such a remarkable rarity.