Animals extinct this century
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:
The IUCN Red List of threatened species:
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.
Craugastor escoces
Extinct by 2007.
IUCN: database entry.
Scientific name: Craugastor escoces.
This species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family does not have a widely accepted common name. It inhabited the volcano slopes of Barva, Iraz
, something happens and their ship crashes. Now instead of a friendly race trying to help them repair their ship, they get taken prisoners and experimented on.
....and murder each other....
