THE 9 MOST PROMINENT EXTINCT ANIMALS IN COLOMBIA - BIOLOGY - 2025

Among the extinct animals in Colombia are the Colombian giant sloth and the olive ridley turtle. This group includes species that have disappeared from their habitat due to evolutionary consequences, the destruction of their ecosystem and human activities such as pollution and hunting.

Throughout history, even before humans inhabited Earth, different animal species have gone through stages of danger and even mass extinctions. This due to changes in their migration patterns, climate change or as it happened with dinosaurs: the fall of a meteorite.

Olive ridley turtle

In recent decades, this decline in animal species is largely due to human intervention. The number of extinct species in the world amounts to 849, of which an estimated 322 are caused by man; these numbers have grown rapidly since the Industrial Revolution.

Colombia is one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world and the second in variety of species, so the preservation of the environment is vital for the well-being of the territory.

You may also be interested in this list of extinct animals around the world.

Naturally extinct animals

There is no exact record of the number of extinct species in Colombian territory. However, 359 of its species are in danger of disappearing in the coming decades, of which 87 are imminently extinct. The following is a list of animal species that no longer live in the wild in Colombia.

The extinction of animals has occurred throughout history. On planet Earth, 6 mass extinctions have occurred; 5 of these caused by changes in the environment, the adaptation of species and the introduction of new, stronger predators.

Colombian giant sloth

The giant sloth was a megaterium that lived 8000 years ago in the area of ​​present-day Villavieja in Colombia.

It is estimated that it was the largest species in America during the late Pliocene, reaching up to 6 meters in height. Its disappearance is due to a natural imbalance of its ecosystem.

Amazon giant boa

This subspecies of boa lived 6 million years ago in the Amazon region in South America. Excavations by paleontologists from the University of Florida discovered the fossils in Colombian territory.

The specimens were up to 12 meters long and weighed just over 1,300 kilos. Their main food was the medium-sized animals that lived in the wetlands.

The exact reason for his disappearance is unknown, but it is estimated that it was during a mass extinction in his period.

Cerrejonisuchus improcerus

Also called cerrejón, it was a small subspecies of crocodile, contemporary of the giant boa 6 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Amazon area of ​​Colombia.

It had smaller jaws than the current crocodile and these were a little crooked to facilitate the hunting of fish, lizards, snakes and probably mammals. His disappearance is due to one of the mass extinctions of his period.

Phoberomys

It is a now extinct genus of rodents that inhabited South America during the Miocene. It lived 8 million years ago in the vicinity of the now Orinoco River, in the area of ​​Colombia.

It could measure up to 3 meters high and its tail added another 150 centimeters. It was the second largest rodent of all time: it weighed around 700 kilos.

Their cause of extinction is estimated to have been their predators, saber-toothed tigers, and much larger birds.

Extinct animals because of man

In the last two centuries, animal extinction has accelerated to the point of increasing by 100%. Although the planet has gone through five mass extinctions, we are in the middle of a sixth, the first totally caused by humans and their destruction of the environment.

Cira diver

The diver was a species of bird unique in Colombia that lived in the Andes mountains. It is a bird that dived to catch its prey, the fish in the area.

Its extinction occurred during 1977 and it is estimated that it was due to the pollution of its habitat, poaching and the introduction of rainbow trout to its ecosystem, since it was its direct competition in the food chain.

Golden-billed duck

This species of Andean bird has disappeared from northern Colombia due to the mistreatment of its habitat, the growth of urban areas and the effect of sewage. The animal can still be observed in the wild in some countries of South America.

It can measure up to 60 centimeters and weighs around 600 grams. Its beak is bright yellow, its feathers are brown, and it has a black head. It feeds on seeds and vegetables.

Olive ridley turtle

Olive ridley turtles are a species that lives on the coasts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its appearance on the coasts of Colombia gradually diminished until it was no longer found due to poaching and the taking of its eggs.

It is estimated that it can live 35 years on average. These migratory animals feed on crabs, shrimp, lobsters, fish, and invertebrates.

Ash lagoon

Also known as a migratory lagoon, it is a bird usually seen in North America. Its disappearance from Colombia was gradual and, to date, it has not been observed in the wild in recent years.

It reaches 53 centimeters, its feathers are gray and the tips of its wings are black. It lives in swampy areas, feeds on birds and small reptiles and is in a state of conservation in the countries of the northern hemisphere.

Giant otter

This specimen can only be found in Colombia in captivity, as it is extinct in the wild and only 60 specimens are kept under government care at the Cali Zoo.

The animal reaches up to 1.7 meters and it is a social animal, as it develops in large groups. His threat was imminent and began in 1950 due to hunting for his velvety fur.

References

1. CNN Spanish (2017) They confirm that the only Colombian bird in the world has become extinct. CNN Spanish Colombia. Recovered from cnnespanol.com
2. Daniels, R. (2017) Extinct animals in the Amazon Rainforest. Sciencing. Recovered from sciencing.com
3. Dell'amore (2014) Species Extinction Happening 1,000 times Faster Because of Humans? National Geographic. Recovered from news.nationalgeographic.com
4. El Tiempo (2009) Golden-billed ducks are today an extinct species. El Tiempo Archive. Recovered from eltiempo.com
5. Government of Colombia (sf) Colombia studies the current status of the giant otter. Environment and sustainable development. Recovered from minambiente.gov.co
6. ICESI (sf) Lagunero Migratorio. Birds of Colombia. Recovered from icesi.edu.co
7. ICESI (sf) Pico de Oro Duck. Birds of Colombia. Recovered from icesi.edu.co
8. KYENYKE (2014) In Colombia 359 wild species are in danger of extinction. KYENYKE. Recovered from kyenyke.com