James Cranfield Discovers Rare Extinct Tasmanian Tiger Head Sold as Common Fox
A British curiosity dealer, James Cranfield, discovered that a taxidermied head purchased at an auction was an exceptionally rare specimen of a thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, rather than a fox. The artifact was initially sold at a county fair for approximately $67, but it was later sold at auction in Bristol for over $85,000. Cranfield identified the specimen as a thylacine based on its distinctive eight upper incisors, whereas foxes typically possess six. To confirm the identity of the mount, Cranfield subjected the head to X-ray and CT scans, which revealed a pristine skull. The specimen has been officially added to the International Thylacine Specimen Database. The thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial that lived in Australia and Tasmania until it became extinct in 1936. Cranfield plans to make the head available to scientists for non-destructive study, specifically to collect DNA samples from the teeth to expand the knowledge of the species' genetic diversity. He is also currently in talks with several institutions to determine the best location for public display.
Sources
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‘Holy grail’: Antique ‘fox head’ bought at a flea market turns out to be an ancient extinct species valued at $85K
nypost.com
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Antique 'Fox Head' Bought at Auction Wasn't a Fox at All. It Was a Long-Extinct Species.
ScienceAlert
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Looking beyond the label
Solicitors Journal
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It has been discovered that a 'weird fox head' that was won at auction was actually from an extinct animal, not a fox.
GIGAZINE