71 EXTINCT ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD (AND THE CAUSES) - BIOLOGY

Among the most incredible extinct animals we can find the mammoth, the European jaguar, the dodo or the Balinese tiger, but there are many more species and in this post we have compiled up to 50 that until not long ago lived among us.

For centuries the human being was content to study the animal kingdom and did not understand the need to conserve it. Only in the last hundred years can evidence be found of many species that have disappeared because their habitat changed drastically or they were targeted by hunters.

On the other hand, many consider that this process is imminent since entire species have become extinct through the centuries without human intervention.

From the megafauna there are cases of extinction that strengthen the theory of "the law of natural selection" and the idea of "survival of the fittest."

It is important to remember that animals that have completely disappeared (EX) or that no longer live in their natural habitat are considered extinct and only a few specimens remain alive in captivity (EW).

The 50 most outstanding extinct animals

Mammoth

They were animals that lived in different climatic zones, very similar to elephants but with curved and much longer tusks. The mammoths that lived in warm land had larger ears, while those in cold climates were hairier.

Thanks to cave painting, mammoths were found to have hunched backs, probably due to a hump of fat.

In prehistoric times, humans hunted mammoths and used their tusks to make ornaments and weapons, but it is considered that these animals became extinct due to a number of factors.

Among them is climate change. There were numerous subspecies of mammoths, so it is difficult to determine when they became definitively extinct since some subspecies became extinct first than others.

It is considered that the human being was an important cause of the extinction of the mammoth, although it was a very slow process that required several human generations, so it was difficult for our ancestors to be aware of it.

Spix's Macaw

This bird is extinct in its wild habitat, plus several specimens still live in zoos around the world. It is originally from Brazil. Its fur is blue and the wings of its tail are black.

The causes of their extinction are habitat loss and climate change, both caused by humans.

In the animated films Rio and Rio 2 the main characters Blu and Perla are macaws. It is hoped that one day these birds may be reintroduced to their natural habitat.

West African Black Rhino

This subspecies of black rhinoceros was considered the rarest among all. In September 2011 it was officially declared extinct since scientific expeditions could not find any in its natural habitat in Cameroon, in addition there is no specimen of the animal in captivity.

The cause of its extinction is hunting to collect ivory.

Irish elk or giant deer

These animals lived for half a million years and are considered the largest deer (family of the deer and deer animal kingdom).

They lived throughout Europe and Asia, but like most specimens they have been found in Ireland, so the scientific community baptized them as Irish.

The most important cause of their extinction was a series of climatic changes that seriously affected their natural habitat.

Caribbean monk seal

This Caribbean mammal, from the Phocid family, was declared extinct in 1994 after multiple unsuccessful scientific expeditions in search of it. It could measure up to 2.40 meters in length and weigh up to 130 kg.

The first recorded contact with this animal was Christopher Columbus, although logically this animal was known to the native peoples of America.

The Spanish colonists hunted this animal to use its body fat and skin. Although the animal is considered extinct periodically in Jamaica and Haiti they say they have seen it.

Its only predators were the Caribbean shark and man. It became extinct due to indiscriminate hunting, although in the 20th century it was also affected by the pollution of the Caribbean waters.

Megatherium Americanum

This gigantic Pleistocene animal lived in territories of the American continent. Most of its fossils have been found in Argentina.

The first was found by Fray Manuel de Torres in 1795. Today this place has been converted into a Museum.

This animal is considered to have become extinct during the last ice age 12-10,000 years ago. Its bones were much more robust than those of a modern elephant.

Its closest living relative is considered to be the sloth. The French naturalist George Cuvier developed the scientific description of this giant.

Caracara of Guadalupe

This bird, an extinct member of the genus Caracara, was endemic to the island of Guadalupe in Mexico. It was considered an evil bird by the first settlers of the island. It became extinct in the 20th century due to hunting and poisoning.

The last specimen was hunted by Rollo Beck, who added it to his collection of stuffed animals. There are other dissected specimens in the Museums of Chicago, Washington and London. Another specimen is known to have lived in captivity until 1903.

This species was purposely eliminated as it was a goat-hunting bird of prey and farmers did not want to lose their production.

The traveling pigeon

The last specimen of a traveling pigeon died at the Cincinnatti Zoo in 1914. This bird native to North America became extinct due to its indiscriminate hunting and since colonial times it was a source of meat, feathers and fat for the colonists.

By 1880, the effects of hunting were already noticeable and the population had declined irreversibly. Due to the lack of a conservation policy, these animals became extinct first in their wild habitat and later in captivity.

Bonin pigeon or Columba versicolor

Endemic to the Bonin Archipelago, Japan. This bird was discovered thanks to four specimens collected, the first in 1827 and the last in 1889.

It became extinct at the end of the 19th century according to research. The causes were deforestation, predation by introduced fauna, and hunting.

These birds had a beautiful coat. Its last sighting dates from 1889. Its eggs were vulnerable and preyed upon by rats and cats.

The marsupial wolf or Tasmanian wolf

Native to Australia and New Guinea, this carnivore became extinct in the 20th century. One of the causes of their extinction was the diseases of dogs, from which the marsupial wolf was infected.

The Tasmanian Devil is considered its closest living relative. This animal hunted at night and was very dangerous.

Only one case of their captive breeding is known and it is perhaps because of this that little is known about them. It was exclusively carnivorous and its muscle mass allowed it to be very resistant.

Despite the fact that this animal has been declared extinct, there are cases of witnesses who claim to have seen it and even in Australia rewards have been offered to those who can prove that the animal still exists.

In 1999, the Australian Museum in Sydney started a project for its cloning. The results of this project have not yet been published.

Giant Alca or Pinguinus impennis

This "penguin" was the largest of the auks. They lacked the ability to fly but were good swimmers. They were called "penguins" because of their similar fur. It was usually seen by sailors in cold waters.

He was also extremely friendly and allowed himself to be caught. It became a regular prey for collectors of stuffed animals. Their indiscriminate hunting led the species to extinction. It could be a meter tall and weighed up to 5 kilograms.

As its population decreased, its habitat was reduced to Iceland. In 1844 the last two auks were hunted and offered to the Danish crown for a reward.

Scott's horse

It was a species of the genus Equus, native to North America. It is considered to have become extinct during the Pleistocene. It is considered that their disappearance coincided with the extinction of the megafauna (animals with a very large size that could weigh up to 100 kg).

It is named after William Berryman Scott, who described it scientifically. Fossils of this animal have been found in various locations in the United States and a specimen in Chile.

European jaguar

This carnivorous mammal lived 1.5 million years ago and is the oldest known species of jaguar in Europe. This animal is a relative of the contemporary jaguar, lion and tiger.

Fossils of this animal have been found in Germany, Spain, England, France and the Netherlands. It became extinct shortly after the arrival in Europe of two panthers: the lion and the leopard.

The giant pigeon of Viti Levu

This extinct species of pigeon inhabited Viti Levu, the largest island in the Republic of Fiji. Scientist TH Worthy described this bird scientifically in his work A giant flightless pigeon gen. et sp. Nov. and a new species of Ducula (Aves: Columbidae), from Quaternary deposits in Fiji.

The remains of this bird were found in 1998 and the Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa in New Zealand has the only holotype of the species.

The Balinese tiger

This subspecies endemic to Bali, Indonesia that became extinct in 1937. In the 20th century with the arrival of a wave of people to the island of Bali, the hunting of this tiger increased. Hunting these animals was a sport for Western tourists.

Since the 70s this species has been considered extinct. Perhaps its closest relative is the Javanese tiger. Because both species are good swimmers, the animals kept in contact.

The giant rat of Gran Canaria

This species was endemic to the Canary Islands. Fossil remains of these rodents are in the Museum of Nature and Man of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

These rodents could reach up to 25 centimeters. Among the causes of their extinction are human activity and the introduction of cats by humans, since previously rodents did not have any common predator among the endemic fauna of the islands.

Craugastor chrysozetetes

This species of frog or toad was endemic to Honduras. In the 90s it was declared in danger of extinction but unfortunately the necessary measures for its conservation were not taken.

Multiple expeditions have tried to find specimens of this species, but their search has yielded no results.

This is why in 2004 the species was declared extinct. Among the causes of extinction are climate change and the loss of their natural habitat.

Chytridiomycosis, a disease that affects toads and frogs, is also considered to be the cause of population decline.

The broad-faced kangaroo rat

This endemic Australian animal was a rare marsupial species. In 1839 the first specimen of this animal was discovered and it was considered to be a rare animal with a limited population.

The English naturalist and ornithologist John Gould, in his work Birds of Australia, scientifically described this species. Its habitat is unknown.

It is considered that its population was reduced due to the settlements of European colonists. In 1875 the last specimens of this animal were found.

The eastern wallaby

This endemic species of southeastern Australia became extinct in 1889, when the last female died. This marsupial fed on grasses, grass, and ferns. Its behavior was similar to that of the hare.

According to John Gould, this species was capable of jumping very high and in one of this naturalist's encounters with it, the wallaby jumped on its head.

This animal is considered to have become extinct due to its competition with cattle, which were introduced by the colonists to Australia.

The Caloenas maculata

The Liverpool pigeon has been christened thanks to the fact that the only specimen of this animal that exists is exhibited in the National Museum of Liverpool. Thanks to DNA tests, the family to which this animal belonged was determined.

John Latham in his work A General Synopsis of Birds mentioned this bird for the first time and Johann Friedrich Gmelin was the first to describe it.

Thanks to its name, it has been suggested that this bird may have been collected from Tahiti, since its natives mentioned the bird "marmoset", whose description is similar to that of the dove.

Eclectus infectus

This extinct species possibly inhabited Tonga, Vanuatu, and Fiji. The specimens found had its almost complete skeleton, which allowed David William Steadman to describe this animal in 2006.

The species is considered extinct in Tonga 3000 years ago due to human activity. On the other hand, the species may have survived on other islands, as the Italian explorer Alejandro Malaspina described a similar bird during his expeditions in 1788-1794.

24- Ascension Rail

Endemic bird of Ascension Island. It was drawn in 1656 by Peter Mundy. It lived in desert areas and its diet consisted of eggs. It is likely that it became extinct when the rats arrived on the island, since they competed for eggs.

In 1815 wild cats were introduced to the island and this date is considered as the total extinction. In 2003 a new genus Mundia was created for this bird, as analyzes determined that it was not part of the Tristan da Cunha (Atlantisia rogersi) family as previously believed.

The guará or fox-wolf of the Falklands

This extinct carnivore was the only endemic mammal of the Falkland Islands. The name of guará was given by the river plate gauchos. This animal was about 90 centimeters long, its fur was copious and its color peculiar.

According to a DNA study, its closest living relative is the maned maned wolf or maned wolf, which is an endemic animal to South America.

Its diet is unknown, since other mammals did not inhabit the Falklands, many scientists consider that the guará hunted penguins and geese.

When the human being settled on the island, the guará dedicated himself to hunting cattle, especially sheep. In 1833 Charles Darwin predicted the extinction of the guará, since at that time its population was decreasing rapidly.

It is considered to be extinct in 1876, but some specimens were embalmed in the hope of future cloning.

The dodo or drone

Endemic bird from Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It became extinct in the 17th century due to human activity.

This bird could be up to a meter in height, its beak was long and its fur grayish. It was discovered in the 16th century by Spanish explorers, who took a copy to Europe.

The Portuguese baptized these birds as dodo, which means "stupid." Another theory is that the name comes from the word dodoor, which means "lazy" in Dutch.

Due to the introduction of cattle on the island by European conquerors, the dodos lost their natural habitat and their population began to decline.

The dodo is an important cultural reference, and the history of its extinction made it an example of how human influence can cause the extinction of species.

Cape blue antelope

This endemic mammal of South Africa became extinct in 1799/1800. This species had a very limited habitat, so its population was not very high.

After its discovery by the colonists, they brought with them cattle that competed with the antelope for the territory.

Its fur was not blue, but brown so the reason for its name is not known. This antelope was small when compared to other species in the Bovidae family.

Its taxonomic description is not reliable because this species has not been sufficiently studied.

Little flying fox from Mauritius or Rougette

This type of bat, endemic to the Mascarene Islands, became extinct in the 19th century. There are several dissected specimens in Paris, London and other museums.

According to a description of the Island, written in 1772, these bats were typical and their population was high. But they were hunted for their meat and fat.

If in the early colonial times it was typical to find colonies of 300-400 bats in a cave, by the end of the 18th century it was rare to see them fly in the daytime.

Western Rabid Kangaroo

This species of kangaroo became extinct in Australia in the mid-20th century. This marsupial was preyed upon by foxes and cats introduced by settlers. Australia is the island that has suffered the most from introduced animals.

The introduced rabbits completely changed the habitat, depriving the kangaroos of their means of food.

The last specimen was caught in 1927 or 1928 and was later taken to the Taronga Zoo. When he died, his remains were exhibited in the Australian Museum.

The almiqui of Marcano

This mammal became extinct on the Island of Hispaniola with the arrival of Europeans in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was a member of the Solenodontidae family, which lived in the West Indies.

Only 4 species are known, including the Marcano almiquí. They are the family of rats and rodents. These nocturnal mammals fed on insects. Its elongated snout is similar to that of shrews. Her bite was poisonous.

The pig's feet bandicut

This Australian herbivore became extinct in the mid-20th century. Thomas Mitchell in 1836 captured the first specimen near the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers. Few scientists had the opportunity to see this animal so not much information is known about it.

Its size was similar to that of a cat, it lived in different habitats and was characterized by having very thin legs with few fingers. The fox and the rabbit are considered its main exterminators.

Geocapromys thoracatus or hutía of the Swan Islands

This species of rodent was endemic to the Swan Islands of Honduras and the introduction of rats is considered to be the cause of its extinction. It is considered that this species may be related to the Jamaican jutia or Geocapromys browni.

This species lived in caves and moved slowly. In the twentieth century, jutías were still found but after Hurricane Janet and the introduction of cats, they disappeared completely.

Oo Bishop or Oo of Molokai

This endemic species to the mountainous forests of Molokai Island in Hawaii became extinct in 1904. Ornithologist George Campbell Munro found the last specimen.

After this, the scientist tried unsuccessfully to find other specimens. The destruction of their habitat is the cause of their disappearance.

Its length reached 29 centimeters and its black plumage had yellow plumes on the chin and under the wings. The native Hawaiian peoples hunted this bird for its plumage that was used in the attire of the nobles.

Delcourt Gecko

In the middle of the 19th century, this species of giant gecko became extinct. Its last appearance dates back to 1870, when it was seen by a native of the Maori tribe. The only specimen of this animal that has been preserved, it was found in the basement of the Museum of Marseille in 1983.

Nobody knows who brought it and how. It was discovered by Alain Delcourt, to whom the animal owes its name. In New Zealand there are other species of gecko, but this one was distinguished by its size of up to 370 millimeters.

Minor bilby

In the 20th century this species was considered endemic to the Great Sandy Desert and the Gibson Desert in Australia, but recent evidence suggests that it inhabited more widespread areas.

This marsupial has been considered extinct since the 50-60s. It was a nocturnal animal that fed on other rodents, roots, ants, and plants. The introduced predators eliminated the species, despite the fact that the Bilbí was quite an aggressive and tenacious animal.

It was discovered in 1887 in the Gibson Desert and in 1931 many specimens were captured in Cooncherie, where its population was high.

Tana's Partridge Pigeon

This endemic bird from Tana, Vanuatu possibly became extinct in the 19th century. Only two specimens of this pigeon are known and none have been preserved.

The best known, dating from James Cook's second voyage across the South Seas in 1774, was a female painted by Georg Forster at Tana.

His scientific description was made later based on the drawing. This painting is on display at the Natural History Museum in London. This specimen was lost. The other, from the Joseph Banks collection exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London, was male.

Due to the limited information, little is known about their diet, habitat or the causes of their extinction.

Microgoura meeki

It is an endemic bird to the Solomon Islands. She had a bluish plume on her head that distinguished her. Walter Rothschild scientifically described this bird in 1904. The American Museum of Natural History preserves a drawing of the bird.

Albert Stewart Meek hunted several specimens of the bird which he later sold to the Museum of Natural History. Because of this, Rothschild named the bird after Stewart Meek. Its wings, tail, and back were brown, its tail had purple highlights, and its legs were purple-red.

Japanese wolf

This subspecies of gray wolf inhabited the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan. It is considered that it became extinct not only due to loss of its habitat due to the influence of man, but the wolf population was infected with a rabies epidemic.

The last specimen died in Nara in 1905. In Japanese mythology the wolf played a special role, which is why this species is remembered by the population. There are several dissected specimens in museums, such as the British Museum.

Golden Frog

Endemic to Monteverde, Costa Rica. This toad was declared extinct in 1989. The extinction of this anuran amphibian is due to climate change that affected its habitat. Their skin was fluorescent and the females were larger than the males.

They lived underground and so little is known about their behavior. Martha Crump describes their mating process in her book "In Search of the Golden Frog."

Due to the effects of El Niño, a climatic and atmospheric phenomenon that affects the countries of America, the measures taken to save the golden frog were not effective.

Lesser Koa Finch

This endemic bird from Kona, Hawaii was described in the book Birds of Hawa i written by George Munro. In 1892 when they were scientifically described they were scarce.

It is not known what was the cause of its extinction. Her chest and belly were yellow, but her other coat was green. There are some specimens in the museums of New York and London.

Carolina Parrot

It was the only species of parrot native to North America. In 1918 the last specimen in captivity died at the Cincinnati Zoo.

It is believed that these birds were infected with diseases characteristic of poultry, which significantly decreased their population.

Other causes of extinction are hunting, extermination by man and invasive species, and deforestation.

Mexican brown bear

These bears lived in northern Mexico, in temperate grasslands and pine forests. In the 16th century the first European settlers came into contact with them.

Bears were considered a pest because they hunted the colonists' livestock. For this they were hunted and by 1930 there were only 30 specimens left.

The American biologist Dr. Carl B. Koford organized expeditions to try to find a specimen, without success. Despite being considered extinct, in Mexico from time to time rumors arise about loggers who claim to have seen them.

Grebe from Lake Atitlán or macá de Atitlán

This species of Guatemalan bird became extinct in the 20th century. In the 1960s it was studied and its scientific description and other research on it was published. Crabs were her favorite delicacy. Fishing and tourism contributed to its extinction.

Schomburgk deer

Endemic to central Thailand, this species of deer became extinct in 1938, when a specimen that was a temple mascot died. In Thailand, France and Germany programs were organized for their breeding but were not successful.

Hunting for their horns and fur are the main reason for their extinction. In 1991 the ornamentation of a deer was discovered in Laos, which led to think that some herds may have survived in the territory of the neighboring country.

Rheobatrachus silus

This species of frog lived in Australia and became extinct in 1981. It is considered one of the most interesting frog species since it incubated its eggs in its stomach.

The University of New Wales has tried unsuccessfully to clone this animal. The exact reason for its extinction is not known. Its last staging dates from the 1980s. In 2002 it was declared extinct.

Lanai drepano

Endemic bird from Lanai, Hawaii. It was the only representative of the genus Dysmorodrepanis. It is considered that the policy of deforesting the forest to develop pineapple plantations led to the disappearance of the natural habitat of this bird. Its last sightings date from the 10s of the 20th century.

The bird was described by George Munro. Regarding his diet, it is known that he ate urera fruits. The only surviving specimen of the bird is on display in Honolulu at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.

Formosan clouded leopard

The leopard or cloudy panther of Formosa, was a type of clouded leopard, inhabiting the island of Formosa, today Taiwan.

It differs from the endemic leopard species of Taiwan in that its tail size was shorter. Also for being recognized as the second largest hunter on the island, after the Taiwanese black bear.

It is estimated that their extinction took place approximately 30 years ago and was caused by the destruction of their habitat.

Before becoming extinct, this species took refuge in the island's mountains, where it was last sighted by a group of local hunters.

T

This species was endemic to the Island of Pinta, in the Galapagos archipelago, Ecuador. It was one of ten species of giant tortoises found only on the island. It was first described in 1877 by Albert Günter.

The last specimen of this species died in 2012, at the age of approximately 100 years. This last specimen was known as "The lonely George", since for many years it was the only living specimen of its kind in the world.

Despite the attempts to conserve the species, carried out by the Charles Darwin Research Station, the few specimens of this species that were found alive could not reproduce, causing the eventual extinction of the species.

Java rhino

The Javan rhinoceros was one of five recent species in the Rhinocerotidae family to inhabit the world.

They shared similar characteristics with the Indian rhinoceros, belonging to the same order, differing from their peers in the thickness of their dermal plates and size.

Among all the species of rhinoceros, the java had a smaller horn, even missing in some females.

It gets its name from its place of origin, the island of Java in Southeast Asia. The number of members of this species was gradually reduced over time, to the point where they could only be found in zoos.

The last members of this species disappeared in 2010.

Bucardo

This species belonged to the mountain goat family, being a subspecies of it.

Its origin was Iberian and the alert for its extinction was announced from the beginning of the 20th century. However, almost 100 years after this alert was given, the last specimen of the species was found dead.

The cause of its extinction was mainly due to poaching, due to its precious fur and horns.

This coat was abundant and allowed it to be differentiated from other types of goats that also inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.

Poc Duck

Although some specimens of this species still survive, it is considered that this type of bird disappeared during the 60s, being endemic to Lake Atitlán, located in Guatemala.

Similar to the thick-billed grebe, the poc duck was considerably larger in size, reaching 53 centimeters in length.

Its wings were small and were useless for flying. It had dark brown plumage and white speckled sides.

Tourism and the increase in fishing activities on the lake led to its inevitable extinction.

Madagascar dwarf hippo

This hippopotamus inhabited the island of Madagascar approximately 1000 years ago. In fact, it is considered that there were different species of dwarf hippos on said island according to the fossil records found there.

It is believed that their appearance was quite similar to that of the hippos that currently inhabit the planet, which is why some theories maintain that this species inhabited the earth until more recent times.

The size of this species was approximately 75 centimeters high, by 2 meters long. Of this species, currently, only skulls and fossil evidence of its existence and subsequent extinction are preserved.

Great white butterfly from Madeira

It was the most emblematic species of butterfly on the island of Madeira in Portugal. It was considered a relic of the Pliocene, it was geological characterized by its more humid and Mediterranean climate.

Its extinction officially took place in 2007, when the overexploitation of the resources that made up its habitat consumed approximately 80% of it.

On the other hand, the incursion of pesticides in the area and the presence of other toxic agents had an abysmal impact, not only on this species, but also on multiple types of insects.

Its morphology was quite peculiar, since it reached a wingspan of up to 6.5 cm. Its wings were pure white with black spots on the vertices.

Its closest living relative is known as the white cauliflower butterfly, also endemic to the island of Madeira.

Kakawajie

This type of bird was discovered in the 19th century, in the Hawaiian Islands, of which it was endemic.

It is believed that the cause of their extinction was the same as that of other birds of the Hawaiian Islands: the destruction of their habitat.

The introduction of certain species to the islands also led to the proliferation of avian diseases spread to a greater extent by mosquitoes, such as malaria and fowl pox.

On the other hand, it was a highly predated species by hunters, a situation that led to a progressive decline in the number of members that made up its population.

Glaucous macaw

This macaw was considered one of the most exotic species of birds that inhabited the north of Argentina. Their habitat was the yatay palm forests, on whose nuts they fed.

The massive destruction of these palm forests led to the loss of their habitat and the gradual reduction of the number of individuals of this species.

The last healthy specimen of this species was sighted in Uruguay in the 1950s. After this event, all the expeditions carried out to verify if it still exists have been in vain.

Graceful red-bellied marmosa

This type of mammal was part of the marsupial family, characteristic for inhabiting the province of Jujuy in northern Argentina.

Its extinction was due to the massive destruction of its habitat, which was converted mainly into agricultural fields.

Imperial woodpecker

The imperial woodpecker was the largest woodpecker in the world. The male was predominantly black, with large white spots on each wing and two white stripes on the back. The female was distinguished by her red nape and a red and black crescent-shaped crest on her head.

This bird is technically extinct. Scientists give as reasons for their extinction the destruction of natural habitat by indiscriminate felling of forests and hunting for fun. The date of disappearance is set towards the end of the 20th century.

Quagga or Zebra of the plains

This zebra is closely related to horses and other equines. Their dark stripes on the head and neck are distinctive.

Towards the back of the head the stripes become paler and the spaces in between darker. Eventually they disappear and everything turns a light brown color.

These animals were hunted so excessively that in the middle of the 19th century they disappeared from their natural habitat. The last quagga in captivity died at the Amsterdam Zoo in August 1883.

Norfolk Kaka

This species was native to Norfolk Island (Australia). It was a large parrot with short wings, a large beak, and oversized legs. His striking features were the colors red, yellow and green on the chest and lower part of the head.

According to records, habitat destruction and hunting for recreational and pet use was the cause of its decline and eventual disappearance. Their total extinction is believed to have occurred around the 1800s.

Japanese sea lion

The Japanese sea lion is believed to have become extinct in the 1950s. Its natural habitat was the Sea of Japan, especially around the coastal areas of the Japanese archipelago and the Korean peninsula.

Male Japanese sea lions were dark gray in color and measured 2.3 to 2.5 m. The females were significantly smaller, at 1.64 meters long and lighter in color. The cause of its extinction is located in its indiscriminate fishing for commercial uses.

Dark shore sparrow

The Dusky Shore Sparrow was a non-migratory songbird native to South Florida. Its development only occurred in specific habitats characterized by high humidity.

They depended on a herbaceous plant called Spartina Bakeri, common in the flooded areas around Cape Canaveral where they made their nests.

Thus, spraying with DDT for mosquito control and civil works around Cape Canaveral destroyed its natural environment. In the end, the last of this species was reported dead in 1987.

Java tiger

The Java tiger, or Sunda tiger, was a subspecies of tiger that had its natural environment on the island of Java (Indonesia). It was very similar in appearance to the still existing Sumatran tiger. However, their fur was darker and their stripes were finer and more numerous.

Until the 19th century, they could still be seen in abundance throughout the island. However, as the island became more populated, the need for arable land increased. In this way, man was destroying the forests where they lived and began to hunt them until they disappeared.

Mariana duck

This bird had its natural environment located in the Mariara Islands in the Pacific Ocean. They were non-migratory birds that moved only between the islands, and depended on wetlands and thickets of reeds and ferns to survive.

Its decline occurred with the drying of the humid areas made by the peasants to achieve agricultural soils. In addition, the construction of urban developments and roads impacted their habitat. According to records, the last of them died in 1981.

Seychelles parakeet

The Seychelles parakeet was a bird native to the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean. According to reports, this bird was the subject of intense persecution by farmers and owners of coconut plantations.

The last specimens were collected around 1881 and the last captive records date from 1883. This species became totally extinct in 1906.

Steller's Dugong

This marine mammal is also known as the Steller's sea cow and was found in abundance in the North Pacific. There it was discovered for the first time in 1741 by explorers of the Arctic Circle.

At the time of its discovery, it had few predators within its aquatic world. The large species of sharks were the only ones capable of dealing with this monumental animal. But, man was so successful in hunting this animal that they wiped out the entire species in just 17 years.

Moa

The moa was a large species of flightless bird native to New Zealand. They could grow to almost 4 m. tall and weigh 230 kg. They were distant relatives of the Australian emus (dromaius). Their long necks are thought to emit ringing sounds that were highly resonant and low-pitched.

Originally, its natural predator was Haast's eagle. However, this changed dramatically from the time the Maori (ethnic Polynesia) arrived in New Zealand around 1300 AD. In less than a century, their indiscriminate hunting led this species to extinction.

Saber-toothed tiger

The saber-toothed tiger lived in North America and South America at the end of the last ice age. They could reach 400 kg in weight, 3 m. long and 1.4 m. High.

Their canines could reach 30 cm in length, but they were fragile and were mainly used to immobilize their prey by biting their neck. It could open its jaws 120 degrees, but it had a relatively weak bite.

It is believed that this prehistoric feline became extinct more than 12,000 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of humans for the first time to the American continent.

The canary unicolor oystercatcher

Endemic bird of the Canary Islands, it is considered that it became extinct in the middle of the 20th century. The drastic decrease in its population began in the 10s of the last century. This animal lived in rocky things and could reach up to 45 cm.

It was difficult to differentiate the sexes as their coat did not differ, whereas the coat of males and females in other birds usually differs. Their coloration is considered to be a form of camouflage against predators.

Corégono fera

This species of salmon that inhabited France and Switzerland was declared extinct in 2013, but was last seen in its natural habitat in 1920. It fed on insects and migrated during its gestation period.

It lived in rivers and lakes and could be up to 55 centimeters. Its meat was consumed by humans. In 1950 Emile Dottrens described the species scientifically.

The Mascareñas coot or Fulica newtoni

This species of Coot lived in the Mascarene Islands of the Indian Ocean. The last mention of these coots dates from 1667 when Francois Martín, commissioner of the French Indies, considered that their taste was not very pleasant, in addition to mentioning that the bird was already rare.

This coot was larger than its relative the common coot. It could be up to 45-50 centimeters. The first fossil of this animal was found in 1866.

Amsterdam Duck

This flightless bird is known from found fossils and from historical sources. It was endemic to the Island of Amsterdam in the southern French territories and became extinct because it was consumed by the whalers who visited the island.

The explorer John Barrow relates that during his visit to the island of São Paulo in 1793, he saw "a small brown duck, not much larger than a thrush" that was "the favorite food of the five seal hunters who lived on the island.".

Ameiva de Guadalupe or ameiva cineracea

It is a species of lizard endemic to the Island of Guadalupe, whose specimens were collected and discovered by Europeans.

Its fossil remains can be found in a relatively limited area of the Island, which leads to think that this species was already becoming extinct or that its population was scarce before colonial times. It is considered to have been definitively extinct due to the impacts of a hurricane in 1928.

Articles of interest

Endangered animals.

Extinct animals in Mexico.

Extinct animals in Colombia.

References

Artimalia (2017). Drawing species so that they are not erased. Recovered from: artimalia.org
Elizabeth, Hsu (2013). Focus Taiwan. Central News Agency.
Corlett, RT (2007). The Impact of Hunting on the Mammalian Fauna of Tropical Asian Forests
Escós, J; Alados, CL (2012) Mountain goat-Pyrenean Capra. Taken from: Virtual Encyclopedia of Spanish Vertebrates.
BirdLife International (2012). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.

71 EXTINCT ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD (AND THE CAUSES) - BIOLOGY - 2025