Here’s Every Single Animal That Became Extinct In The Last 100 Years (PHOTOS)

Posted on September 16, 2014, 7:45 AM

More: extinct animals, iucn red list, Tuesday Morning

The number of extinct animals is difficult to calculate and always higher than the estimate. In some cases, a species is presumed extinct — none have been seen in years — but it’s yet to receive official extinction status by the IUCN. But the important thing to remember is that extinction is not a historical problem — it’s a contemporary issue.

Below, take a look at every animal (excepting insects, which are extremely difficult to catalogue but which you can find here) that went extinct in just the last 100 years. The list is based on research provided by the Sixth Extinction, a website created to “enhance free public access to information about recently extinct species,” and in order of their approximate date of extinction. We’ve included all the animals confirmed extinct by the IUCN, and added a few more declared extinct by other credible individuals and organizations.

We hope this list helps you reflect on the color, diversity and magnificence of life in our world, and especially our oceans. As well as how much more colorful and diverse it might be if we took better care of natural habitats.

*Where we could not picture the exact animal, we’ve put the species name in gray text and provided an image of a closely related species.

2013 – Formosan Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa brachyura

(Source: “LeopardusBrachyurusWolf” by Joseph Wolf)

2012 — Pinta Island Tortoise, Chelonoidis abingdoni

(Source: Flickr/Putneymark)

2011 — Vietnamese Rhino, Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus

(Source: “Rhinoceros sondaicus in London Zoo” by T.Dixon)

This is the Javan rhino, rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus, a very similar subspecies to the extinct Vietnamese rhino.

2009 — Christmas Island Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus murrayi

(Source: Hfc-hersfield.de)

2007 — Chinese Paddlefish, Psephurus gladius

(Source: “Psephurus gladius” by Muséum d’histoire Naturelle)

2007 — Yangtze River Dolphin, Lipotes vexillifer

(Source: “Lipotes vexillifer” by Alessio Marrucci)

2004 — Po’o-uli, Melamprosops phaeosoma

(Source: “Poʻouli” by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

2002 — Vine Ralatea Tree Snail, Partula labrusca

(Source: Islandbiodiversity)

2000 — Pyrenean Ibex, Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica

(Source: “Pyrenean Ibex” by Joseph Wolf)

1998 – Nukupuu, Hemignathus lucidus

(Source: “Nukupuu Hemignathus lucidus” by Jean Gabriel Prêtre)

1997 — Western Black Rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis longipes

(Source: Rhinoresourcecenter)

1997 — Aldabra Banded Snail, Rhachistia aldabrae

(Source: Islandbiodiversity)

1996 — Zanzibar Leopard, Panthera pardus adersi

(Source: “Zanzibar Leopard 2″ by Peter Maas)

1996 — Swollen Raiatea Tree Snail, Partula turgida

(Source: “Partula turgida national museum of scotland” by Geni)

1989 — Golden Toad, Incilius periglenes

(Source: “Bufo periglenes2″)

1987 — Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens

(Source: Bagheera)

1986 — Atitlan Grebe, Podilymbus gigas

(Source: “Atitlán Grebe”)

1985 — Alaotra Grebe

(Source: Paul Thompson/Birdlife International)

1985 — Eungella Gastric-Brooding Frog, Rheobatrachus vitellinus and Rheobatrachus silus

(Source: “Rheobatrachus silus”)

Rheobatrachus silus (extinct 1983), pictured above, is a close relative of the Eungella Gastric-brooding Frog.

1985 – Kaua’i ‘O’o, Moho braccatus

(Source: “Moho braccatus” by Walter Rothschild)

1985 — Christmas Island Shrew, Crocidura trichura

(Source: Supergreenme)

1984 – Amistad Gambusia, Gambusia amistadensis

(Source: “Gambusia punctata” by Günther, A. C. L. G.)

The Cuban gambusia, Gambusia punctata, pictured above, is a close relative of the Amistad Gambusia.

1983 — San Marcos Gambusia, Gambusia georgei

(Source: TPWD)

1983 — Kama’o, Myadestes myadestinus

(Source: “Zzzkamao” by F.W. Frohawk)

1983 — Guam Flycatcher, Myiagra freycinet

(Source: Anne F. Maben)

1983 — Aldabra Warbler, Nesillas aldabrana

(Source: Robert Prys-Jones)

1982 — Galapagos Damselfish, Azurina eupalama

(Source: “Galapagos damsel” by Edmund Heller and Robert E. Snodgrass)

1981 — Marianas Mallard, Anas oustaleti

(Source: “Anas platyrhynchos oustaleti last male” by Eugene Kridler)

1979 — Southern Day Frog, Taudactylus diurnus

(Source: “Taudactylus eungellensis 1″)

Pictured above is the Eungella Torrent Frog, Taudactylus eungellensis – a close relative of the Southern Day Frog.

1978 — White-eyed River Martin, Eurychelidon serintarea

(Source: “PseudochelidonSirintarae” by L. Shyamal)

1977 — Colombian Grebe, Podiceps andinus

(Source: Worldbirds/Humboldt)

1977 — Eiao Monarch, Pomarea fluxa

(Source: “Pomarea pomarea” by Louis Isidore Duperrey & René-Primevère Lesson)

The Maupiti monarch, Pomarea pomarea, pictured above, is a close relative to the Eiao Monarch and the also extinct Nukuhiva Monarch, Pomarea nukuhivae (1940).

1976 — Javan Tiger, Panthera tigris sondaica

(Source: “Panthera tigris sondaica 01″ by Andries Hoogerwerf)

1976 — Madagascan Dwarf Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus lemerlei

(Source: “Hippopotamus lemerlei” by FunkMonk)

In addition to this hippo, the following related species also went extinct: the Lesser Madagascan Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus laloumena; the Madagascan Pygmy Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus madagascariensis; the Madagascan Pygmy Hippopotamus; and the Hippopotamus madagascariensis

1975 — Longjaw Cisco, Coregonus alpenae

(Source: Esasuccess)

1975 — Round Island Burrowing Boa, Bolyeria multocarinata

(Source: “Casarea dussumieri IleRonde 860513″ by Jjargoud)

The Round Island ground boa, Casarea dussumieri, pictured above, is in the same family as the Round Island Burrowing Boa.

1975 — Phantom Shiner, Notropis orca

(Credit: Garold Sneegas)

In 1961, the Phantom Shiner’s relative the Durango Shiner, Notropis aulidion also went extinct.

1974 — Guam Flying Fox, Pteropus tokudae

(Source: Andrew Isles)

1972 — Lake Pedder Earthworm, Hypolimnus pedderensis

(Source: Petermaas)

1972 — Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes

(Source: “XenicusLongipesBuller” by Buller, Walter Lawry)

1971 — Santa Cruz Pupfish, Cyprinodon arcuatus

(Source: “Death Valley Pupfish spawning in Salt Creek”)

The Death Valley Pupfish, Cyprinodon salinus salinus, is a close relative of the Santa Cruz Pupfish.

1970 — Madeiran Large White, Pieris brassicae wollastoni

(Source: “Pieris wollastoni-PD” by A. E. Holt White, Rashleigh Holt White)

1970 — Caspian Tiger, Panthera tigris virgata

(Source: “Panthera tigris virgata”)

1970 — Tecopa Pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis calidae

(Source: “Tecopa-pupfish” by E. Theriot / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Ono, R.D., J.D. Williams, and A. Wagner)

1970 — Clear Lake Splittail, Pogonichthys ciscoides

(Source: “Splittail“)

The Sacremento splittail, Pogonichthys macrolepidotus, pictured above, is a close relative of the Clear Lake Splittail.

1970 — Blue Pike, Sander vitreus glaucus

(Source: “Blue walleye”)

1969 — Blackfin Cisco, Coregonus nigripinnis

(Source: Om)

1969 — Ameca Shiner, Notropis amacae

(Source: “Notropis leuciodus crop” by Noel Burkhead)

The Notropis leuciodus, pictured above, is a close relative of the Ameca Shiner.

1969 — Greater Akialoa, Hemignathus ellisianus

(Source: Fineartamerica)

1969 — Tubercled-blossom Pearly Mussel, Epioblasma torulosa torulosa

(Source: Inhs.illinois)

1967 — Great Short-tailed Bat, Mystacina robusta

(Source: Don Merton)

1966 — Independence Valley Tui Chub, Gila bicolor isolata

(Source: “Gila elegans”)

Bonytail chub, Gila elegans, is a close relative to the Independence Valley Tui Chub.

1965 — Santo Stefano Lizard, Podarcis sicula sanctistephani

(Source: “Male – Female Podarcis siculus”)

The Santo Stefano Lizard is a subspecies of the Italian Wall Lizard, Podarcis sicula,pictured above.

1964 — Mexican Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos nelsoni

(Source: “Mexico grizzlies” by Mills, Enos Abijah)

1964 — Lake Ontario, Coregonus kiyi orientalis

(Source: University Of Michigan Museum Of Zoology)

1964 — Rio Grande Bluntnose Shiner, Notropis simus simus

(Source: Fishesoftexas/ Joseph R. Tomelleri)

The Bluntnose Shiner, Notropis simus, is an endangered species of which the Rio Grande Bluntnose Shiner is a subspecies.

1964 — South Island Snipe, Coenocorypha iredalei

(Source: Nzbirdsonline/Don Merton)

1963 — Kakawahle, Paroreomyza flammea

(Source:“Paroreomyza.flammea” by John Gerrard Keulemans)

1962 — Red-bellied Gracile Mouse Opossum, Cryptonanus ignitus

(Source: “Possum122708″)

The Virginia Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, pictured above is a relative of the Red-bellied Gracile Mouse Opossum.

1962 – Bachmann’s Warbler,

(Source: Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org)

1961 — Semper’s Warbler, Leucopeza semperi

(Source: “LeucopezaSemperiSmit” by Joseph Smit)

1960 — Central Hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes asomatus

(Source: Animalbing)

1960 — Raycraft Ranch Poolfish, Empetrichthys latos concavus

(Source: “Empetrichthys latos” by USFWS)

The Empetrichthys latos, pictured above, includes the extinct subspecies the Raycraft Ranch Poolfish, the Pahrump Ranch Poolfish, Empetrichthys latos pahrump (extinct 1958) and the Ash Meadows Poolfish, Empetrichthys merriami (1955).