Animals extinct this century
Published by Bipin under Animals extinct this century, Hawaiian Crow, Holdridge's Toad, Pyrenean Ibex, Spix's Macaw, The Baiji Dolphin, The Golden Toad, West African Black Rhino on 10:19 AM
These animals have gone extinct since the start of the 21st century. Most of the pictures are public domain or released under a GNU or Creative Commons license (the majority are from Wikipedia). The descriptions are derived from the database maintained by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and from press releases. PIants and inverterbrates which became extinct haven't been included.
21st century extinctions:
Functionally extinct by 2006.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Lipotes vexillifer.
Picture source (Wikipedia).
An expedition organized by The Baiji Foundation in late 2006 sought evidence that Baiji white dolphins still existed in their only habitat, the Yangtze river in China. Scientists from six nations on two research vessels travelled for almost 3500 kilometres to the Yangtze Delta, and then retraced their route. They were equipped with sophisticated optical instruments and underwater microphones, but were unable to detect any surviving dolphins. The Foundation published a report on the expedition and declared the species functionally extinct. What does functionally extinct mean? It means too few potential breeding pairs remain to ensure that the species will survive.
West African Black Rhino
Probably extinct by 2006.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Diceros bicornis longipes.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
In 2006, intensive surveys were conducted to locate any surviving West African black rhinos in their last refuges in northern Cameroon. After 48 field missions, no signs were found of their continued presence, although evidence of earlier poaching remained. The IUCN issued a news release in which the chairman of the African Rhino Specialist Group stated: "As a result this subspecies has been tentatively declared as extinct."
The Golden Toad
Extinct by 2007.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Incilius periglenes.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
The Golden Toad is sometimes referred to as the Monteverde Toad or the Orange Toad. It was only known to exist on a high altitude ridge in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The IUCN database entry states: "Formerly a common species, no specimen has been seen since 1989. It last bred in normal numbers in 1987, and its breeding sites were well known." Its demise is attributed to a combination of factors, including airborne pollution and, due to its restricted range, global warming.
Holdridge's Toad
Extinct by 2007.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Incilius holdridgei.
Photo source: Dr. Robert Wayne Van Devender.
Reproduced with permission.
This species lived in the lower montane rainforest around the Barva volcano in Costa Rica (altitude range: 200-2,200m). It has not been seen since 1986 despite 7 consecutive years of intensive searching to August 2007. It was formerly easy to find during the breeding season - at the onset of the rainy season. In 1975, observers recorded 2,765 males visiting two pools in an 8-day period.
Spix's Macaw
Functionally extinct by 2004.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Melamposops phaeosoma.
Photo source (PIERC).
The Po'o-uli, sometimes referred to as the Black-faced Honeycreeper, was first discovered in 1973 on the north-eastern slopes of Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui. By mid-1997, only three individuals could be found. A few unlocated individuals may exist in the wild, but the current wild population is functionally zero since the three known birds occur in separate, non-overlapping home ranges and no breeding is probable without intervention.
Po'o-uli
Functionally extinct by 2004.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Melamposops phaeosoma.
Photo source (PIERC).
The Po'o-uli, sometimes referred to as the Black-faced Honeycreeper, was first discovered in 1973 on the north-eastern slopes of Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui. By mid-1997, only three individuals could be found. A few unlocated individuals may exist in the wild, but the current wild population is functionally zero since the three known birds occur in separate, non-overlapping home ranges and no breeding is probable without intervention.
Hawaiian Crow
Extinct in the wild by 2004.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Corvus hawaiiensis.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
The last Hawaiian crows were found only in the Kona Forest Unit of the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii. The IUCN database entry states: "The last two known wild individuals of this species disappeared in 2002, so the species is now classified as Extinct in the Wild."
Pyrenean Ibex
Subspecies extinct by 2000.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
The Pyrenean Ibex was one of four subspecies of Spanish Ibex. The last known sighting of a Portuguese Ibex was in 1892, and the last Pyrenean Ibex died in January 2000. The two remaining subspecies, the Gredos Ibex and the Beceite Ibex, are classed as 'Least Concern'.
21st century extinctions:
- The IUCN Red List of threatened species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/
The Baiji Dolphin
Functionally extinct by 2006.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Lipotes vexillifer.
Picture source (Wikipedia).
An expedition organized by The Baiji Foundation in late 2006 sought evidence that Baiji white dolphins still existed in their only habitat, the Yangtze river in China. Scientists from six nations on two research vessels travelled for almost 3500 kilometres to the Yangtze Delta, and then retraced their route. They were equipped with sophisticated optical instruments and underwater microphones, but were unable to detect any surviving dolphins. The Foundation published a report on the expedition and declared the species functionally extinct. What does functionally extinct mean? It means too few potential breeding pairs remain to ensure that the species will survive.
West African Black Rhino
Probably extinct by 2006.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Diceros bicornis longipes.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
In 2006, intensive surveys were conducted to locate any surviving West African black rhinos in their last refuges in northern Cameroon. After 48 field missions, no signs were found of their continued presence, although evidence of earlier poaching remained. The IUCN issued a news release in which the chairman of the African Rhino Specialist Group stated: "As a result this subspecies has been tentatively declared as extinct."
The Golden Toad
Extinct by 2007.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Incilius periglenes.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
The Golden Toad is sometimes referred to as the Monteverde Toad or the Orange Toad. It was only known to exist on a high altitude ridge in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The IUCN database entry states: "Formerly a common species, no specimen has been seen since 1989. It last bred in normal numbers in 1987, and its breeding sites were well known." Its demise is attributed to a combination of factors, including airborne pollution and, due to its restricted range, global warming.
Holdridge's Toad
Extinct by 2007.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Incilius holdridgei.
Photo source: Dr. Robert Wayne Van Devender.
Reproduced with permission.
This species lived in the lower montane rainforest around the Barva volcano in Costa Rica (altitude range: 200-2,200m). It has not been seen since 1986 despite 7 consecutive years of intensive searching to August 2007. It was formerly easy to find during the breeding season - at the onset of the rainy season. In 1975, observers recorded 2,765 males visiting two pools in an 8-day period.
Spix's Macaw
Functionally extinct by 2004.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Melamposops phaeosoma.
Photo source (PIERC).
The Po'o-uli, sometimes referred to as the Black-faced Honeycreeper, was first discovered in 1973 on the north-eastern slopes of Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui. By mid-1997, only three individuals could be found. A few unlocated individuals may exist in the wild, but the current wild population is functionally zero since the three known birds occur in separate, non-overlapping home ranges and no breeding is probable without intervention.
Po'o-uli
Functionally extinct by 2004.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Melamposops phaeosoma.
Photo source (PIERC).
The Po'o-uli, sometimes referred to as the Black-faced Honeycreeper, was first discovered in 1973 on the north-eastern slopes of Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui. By mid-1997, only three individuals could be found. A few unlocated individuals may exist in the wild, but the current wild population is functionally zero since the three known birds occur in separate, non-overlapping home ranges and no breeding is probable without intervention.
Hawaiian Crow
Extinct in the wild by 2004.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Corvus hawaiiensis.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
The last Hawaiian crows were found only in the Kona Forest Unit of the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii. The IUCN database entry states: "The last two known wild individuals of this species disappeared in 2002, so the species is now classified as Extinct in the Wild."
Pyrenean Ibex
Subspecies extinct by 2000.IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name:Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica.
Photo source (Wikipedia).
The Pyrenean Ibex was one of four subspecies of Spanish Ibex. The last known sighting of a Portuguese Ibex was in 1892, and the last Pyrenean Ibex died in January 2000. The two remaining subspecies, the Gredos Ibex and the Beceite Ibex, are classed as 'Least Concern'.
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