A stuffed head bought for $70 at an antique shop in southeast England has been identified as an authentic thylacine specimen, a rare marsupial that went extinct in 1936. Initially mistaken for a fox head, the specimen was later sold at auction in Bristol for $85,000. The identification was confirmed using radiographs and CT scans, which revealed the presence of eight upper incisors—a key feature distinguishing thylacines from foxes, which have only six. This discovery adds to the limited number of known thylacine specimens, with the skull now added to the International Thylacine Specimen Database. It is the second naturalized thylacine head known to exist, with the other preserved in the collection of the late zoologist Eric Guiler at the University of Tasmania. The head was originally purchased for its decorative plastic eyes, which gave it a kitsch or novelty look. James Cranfield, a British dealer specializing in natural curiosities, noticed something unusual about the skull’s structure. Upon closer examination, he identified the unique dental pattern, prompting further investigation. Radiographs and CT scans confirmed the specimen’s authenticity, leading to a surge of interest from collectors. The specimen eventually sold for $85,000, reflecting its rarity and historical significance. The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, once roamed across mainland Australia but disappeared more than 2,000 years ago. It survived only in Tasmania, where it was eventually hunted to extinction in 1936. British colonists targeted the species, considering it a threat to sheep farming. Its extinction marked the loss of a unique predator that once played a vital role in maintaining the island’s ecological balance. The discovery has brought renewed attention to Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company based in Dallas, which is working with the University of Melbourne on a de-extinction project. The company has reconstructed 99.9 percent of the thylacine’s genome, with only 45 gaps remaining. Their goal is to restore the species to Tasmania, where it once helped regulate the ecosystem. This recent find may provide valuable genetic or anatomical data to support such efforts.