Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ThreatenedSpeciesDay
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Let's talk about thylacines.
The last known #thylacine died on this day in 1936 - it was accidentally locked out of the indoor part of its enclosure at a #Hobart zoo, and died of exposure.
A 🧵based on stories of how we've represented thylacines, from my #PlatypusMatters book...
The last known #thylacine died on this day in 1936 - it was accidentally locked out of the indoor part of its enclosure at a #Hobart zoo, and died of exposure.
A 🧵based on stories of how we've represented thylacines, from my #PlatypusMatters book...
Shortly after the British invaded #Tasmania, a #thylacine was caught & illustrated in 1806. As it lay dying, its captor described how its wounds made it "exceedingly inactive and stupid". Scientists in England twisted these words to imply #thylacines were generally unintelligent.
Over the following decades, accounts painted #thylacines as a mysterious, savage killer of the wilderness - coming out of the shadows to kill sheep. (We know now it is unlikely a #thylacine would have hunted many sheep).
My #HerpFall2018 class at @SCSUCOSE has their first #fieldwork lab tomorrow! Students will spend the afternoon checking these traps and surveying nearby sites for #amphibians and #reptiles 1/2
A @SCSUCOSE #biology grad student & I found a DOR Blanding's & painted turtle, & 3 DOR common garter #snakes while setting traps for #HerpFall2018 . The Blanding's #turtle is threatened in #Minnesota & reporting sightings like this can be useful for ongoing conservation efforts
