8 Extinct Animals That You probably didn’t know about

Our planet is composed of many species that each contributes in a unique way to the processes that make up our ecosystems. While it’s easy to overlook the significance of wildlife in the world because of how far away certain animals appear, however, it’s not difficult to see the role that wildlife plays in the overall scheme of things. The web of life consists of humans as well as plants in addition to creatures. If the system is changed due to an extinction event, the life of Earth can be affected.

A lot of us think of the ways in which our global temperature, as well as climate changes, influence our daily lives. However, it is essential to look at how the shifting climate system impacts animals. Also, we must take into consideration the impacts of human-caused actions such as pollution, overhunting, and deforestation, as well as commercial fishing on populations of animals. While many animals are finding ways to adjust to changes such as habitat loss, they have not all found a way around it.

From sustaining the food web to helping to combat climate change and all the rest, animals are an integral element of our ecosystem. Suppose we disrupt the balance of our ecosystems by putting certain species at risk and disrupting nature’s processes. Although the process of extinction is natural, human influence has increased the rate. A report from 2019 found that 1 million animals and plant species are threatened with extinction because of human-caused activities.

For animals that have already faced this fate, we’ve created the list of recently extinct species below. Additionally, you’ll find measures you can adopt to safeguard endangered species for the future.

8 Extinct Animals That You Should Be Keeping Track Of

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Declared Extinct: 2021

Ivory-billed woodpeckers were among the biggest woodpeckers in North America. They ranged from 18 to 20 inches long and had a wingspan of between 30 and 31 inches. Had long, pale bills which allowed them to remove branches from trees to gain access to beetle larvae, which was their primary food source. They had black bodies and two white stripes running down their necks.

This species of bird has come under major controversy over its demise. While it was declared extinct around fifty years ago, a video surfaced in 2005 that contained stories about sightings of the bird in the Arkansas swamp. Some have suggested that the video showed an identical-looking woodpecker to the pileated woodpecker that was found in North America.

In 2021 in 2021, it was announced that the U.S. government moved to declare the animal extinct. However, according to recent research, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, the ivory-billed woodpecker might still exist throughout the U.S.

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Splendid Poison Frog

Declared Extinct 2020

If your thoughts turn to frogs, your thoughts will likely turn toward the usual frogs sporting olive green, grey or brown skin. But, there are many species of frogs struggling for survival in their wet habitats.

The beautiful poison frog can be found among the world’s endangered animals. As a member of the species of poison dart frogs, magnificent poison frogs were the brightest colored Frogs on the planet! The bright red frogs took place within Western Panama, living in humid lowlands and wet forests.

In 2020 in 2020 in 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially declared magnificent forest frogs to be extinct. Contrary to some species that have become extinct entirely due to natural events, The extinction of this species is mostly attributable to human activity.

Deforestation and habitat degradation threatened the species’ survival. This is why actions like logging as well as human settlement impacted the beautiful poison frog. In addition, scientists are also of the opinion that a chytrid fungus outbreak in 1996 led to their decline.

Lake Lanao Freshwater Fish

Declassified Extinct 2020

Lake Lanao, one of the oldest lakes around the globe, was home to approximately 17 species of freshwater fish. It’s the second largest lake in the Philippines, and research estimates it to be about 10 million years old. The species it is home to fifteen species have been declared extinct.

The species that are included in this list are: Barbodes amarus, Barbodes baoulan, Barbodes clemensi, Barbodes disa, Barbodes flavifuscus, Barbodes herrei, Barbodes katolo, Barbodes Lanaiensis Barbodes manalak Barbodes pachycheilus Barbodes Palaemophagus Barbodes palata Barbodes Resimus Barbodes trans as well as Barbodes Truncatalus.

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Based on the research of IUCN, We can probably trace the loss of these species to the spread of invading species into the lakes to serve commercial use. Other factors such as overfishing and destructive fishing techniques were also a factor in the decline of the species.

Smooth Handfish

Declared Extinct 2020

The smooth handfish was sporting an unorthodox appearance. With its wide eyes and mohawk-like fins, the smooth handfish was nothing, not a typical fish. It’s actually well-known due to its capability to “walk” on the seafloor because of its fins which appear like hands.

The smooth handfish was 5.9 inches long and was found in the coastal waters of Tasmania. Because handfish are usually inhabitants of their own and apex predators, they were unable to get around and adjust to their environment when it was disturbed. In the process, they were apprehensive about threats.

The smooth handfish was the first modern-day marine fish that went extinct. With only 14 species of handfish before and the loss of these animals slowed the number to 13. In the year 2020, IUCN officially declared it extinct.

The destruction of habitats was the primary factor in this species’ demise. Fishing, human activities, pollution, as well as the effects of climate change caused these animals to die.

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Bramble Cay Melomys

Declassified Extinct 2019

The Bramble Cay melomys got its name because of its environment The Bramble Cay is a tiny coral cay that is a vegetation-rich area in the northeastern portion of Australia.

The rodents featured long tails, huge feet, and ears that were small. Their furs were the red-brown hue above and a grey-brown shade below. They were approximately 6 inches long and weighed less than half one kilogram. The habitat they lived in was just 10 feet above sea level. As temperatures rose as sea level increased, they saw the animals as an imminent danger.

The Bramble Cay melomys made history as the first mammal to go extinct due to changes in the climate. Human-driven actions that resulted in warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels have contributed to their loss of life. Additionally, intense hurricanes and high tides, and rising sea levels caused flooding of the island, drowning, and washing away vegetation used by the animals as shelter and food sources.

Without sufficient resources to sustain as well as the destruction of habitats, the species was declared threatened by being extinct as was declared by the Australian federal government in the year 2019.

Spix’s Macaw

Declared Extinct (In the Wild): 2019

If you’ve watched the animated film Rio If you’ve watched the animated movie Rio, you’ve got an idea of what this bird appears like. Blu, the main character in the film, is Spix’s Macaw. The bird is often referred to as the little blue macaw. Its vibrant blue hue makes it stand apart from the other birds in the wild.

The Spix’s Macaw was first discovered in Brazil. It’s out of the wild in accordance with the IUCN. This means that the Spix’s macaw isn’t in its natural habitat. However, there are a little more than 100 living in the captive environment.

Their disappearance in the wild is due to practices such as deforestation and illegal trade in pets. Captive breeding programs are trying to increase the number of these species and reintroduce them back to the natural environment they live in.

Baiji

Declared Possibly Extinct: 2017

Baiji is often referred to as”the Chinese river dolphins’ light blue-grey fish that can grow in size up to eight feet in length. For more than 20 million years, the Yangtze River in China was the home of baiji. You can recognize this dolphin by its large, narrow, and long beak, as well as tiny eyes. They were situated at an elevated position on its head. Baiji dolphins are also peaceful and would avoid boats.

The baiji is regarded as the very first dolphin species to go extinct through human activities. The year 2006 was the time when scientists conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Yangtze River. And couldn’t locate any evidence that the species existed. But, the baiji is currently protected as having the status of “possibly extinct,”. According to the IUCN in the year 2017.

The decline in the baiji can be explained by environmental damages. To the Yangtze River due to dam construction as well as pollution of the river, overfishing as well as boating.

Western Black Rhinoceros

Declassified Extinct 2011

These Western Black rhinoceros were one of the rarest of the species of black rhinoceros. Contrary to what it was called, the rhino subspecies featured a dark grey hue.

Similar to other rhino species, they were large and large. You can identify them with the two large horns. They lived in areas of grassland in West as well as Central Africa. And they were agile and could change direction quickly. Even though they had weak eyes and hearing, they had enhanced senses of smell and hearing. However, their unique abilities could not help them.

The loss of rhinos was the direct result of humans’ intervention. Because of the enormous profits generated by trade in horns. They became the victims of poachers who would kill them for their horns. Then, people would use the Horns as decorations or for traditional Chinese medicine.

At the time of their disappearance, in 2000, just 10 rhinos left. In the end, researchers declared them extinct in the year 2011.