1. Sexual Reproduction: Thylacines were sexually reproductive, involving mating between males and females.
2. Mating Season: Thylacines had a specific mating season, with most births occurring in winter.
3. Oestrous Cycle: Female thylacines had a short oestrous cycle, during which they were receptive for mating. Males would often engage in courtship behaviors to attract females.
4. Marsupial Pouch: Like other marsupials, female thylacines possessed a well-developed pouch on their ventral surface, which played a crucial role in their reproductive process.
5. Gestation: The gestation period of a thylacine was relatively short, lasting around 35 days.
6. Birth: Upon the completion of gestation, a female thylacine would give birth to tiny, underdeveloped joeys. These joeys were born in a rudimentary stage, weighing less than a gram and measuring only about 1.5 cm in length.
7. Crawling to the Pouch: The newborn joeys were blind, naked, and had limited mobility. They relied on their well-developed forelimbs and tactile senses to crawl through their mother's fur and enter the pouch.
8. Development in the Pouch: The pouch provided a safe environment for the joeys to continue their growth. Inside the pouch, they latched onto one of the female's four teats and received nourishment from her milk. The joeys remained in the pouch for an extended period, continuing their physical development and gradually transitioning from a helpless state to more active individuals.
9. Emergence from the Pouch: As the joeys grew, they eventually reached a stage where they would begin to venture out of the pouch for short periods. They would continue to rely on their mother's milk for nutrition but started exploring their surroundings and gaining independence.
10. Independence: Thylacine joeys gradually developed into self-sufficient individuals capable of hunting and surviving on their own. They would eventually leave their mother's pouch and lead solitary lives, venturing out into the wild.
It is worth noting that information on thylacine reproduction is primarily derived from observations made during their existence. Thylacines faced significant challenges due to factors like habitat loss, hunting, and disease, leading to their eventual extinction in the wild.