When threatened, it would respond by opening its mouth wide and appear to yawn showing off its impressive teeth and gape. Suggests that it ate only small prey under about 5kg in weight. However, it had relatively weak jaws and skull and didn't have a very powerful bite. It could open its mouth a full 120 degrees. The Tasmanian tiger had an unusually wide gape with 46 teeth. It has been suggested that the Tasmanian tiger used bi-pedal hops as a quick way of moving away when it was frightened or alarmed. It could also easily stand upright on its hind legs. It could then hop short distances in this way. To do this, the animal would stand upright on its hind legs with its tail acting as a tripod support, in precisely the same way a kangaroo does. What is really unusual, however, is that to could also perform a bi-pedal hop like a kangaroo. It held its tail rigidly behind it when it moved. The Tasmanian tiger had a strong, stiff tail similar in some ways to that of a kangaroo.
