List of extinct animals of Australia
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Following is a complete list of Australian animal extinctions from 1788 to the present. There are 23 birds, 4 frogs, and 27 mammal species known to have become extinct since European settlement of Australia. It is worth making special mention of the three great human-introduced killer species: the European rabbit, the European Red Fox, and the domestic cat. Although many other introduced species have played a destructive role, so far these three have been far and away the most significant.
Extinctions are recorded under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Several invertebrate species have also been listed as extinct by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), however this list is less exhaustive, as invertebrates are more difficult to survey and are less well studied.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Extinct Australian animals: 1788 to present
[edit] Birds
Species | Common Name | Location(s) | Comments |
Aplonis fusca | Norfolk Starling | Norfolk Island, NSW | 1923. Competition from introduced European Starling, Song Thrush and Common Blackbird, clearance for agriculture. |
Columba vitiensis godmanae | White-throated Pigeon (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Pigeon | Lord Howe Island | |
Cyanoramphus erythrotis | Red-crowned Parakeet (Macquarie Island), Macquarie Island Parakeet | Macquarie Island | |
Harpagornis moorei | Haast's Eagle | ||
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens | Red-crowned Parakeet (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Parakeet | Lord Howe Island | |
Dasyornis broadbenti litoralis | Rufous Bristlebird (western), South-western Rufous Bristlebird | WA | |
Dromaius ater | Dwarf Emu, King Island Emu | TAS | 1827 |
Dromaius baudinianus | Kangaroo Island Emu | Kangaroo Island | 1805 |
Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis | Emu (Tasmanian) | TAS | 1850 |
Drymodes superciliaris colcloughi | Roper River Scrub-robin | NT | This subspecies maybe invalid. It is known from only 2 specimens of doubtful provenance.[1] |
Gerygone insularis | Lord Howe Gerygone, Lord Howe Warbler | Lord Howe Island | |
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea | New Zealand Pigeon (Norfolk Island race) | Norfolk Island | |
Lalage leucopyga leucopyga | Norfolk Island Long-tailed Triller | Norfolk Island | |
Nestor productus | Norfolk Island Kaka | Norfolk Island | |
Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria | Southern Boobook (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Boobook Owl | Lord Howe Island | |
Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata | Southern Boobook (Norfolk Island), Norfolk Island Boobook | Norfolk Island | 1996 |
Porphyrio albus | White Gallinule | Lord Howe Island | |
Psephotus pulcherrimus | Paradise Parrot | NSW, QLD | Date uncertain but around 1927; more recent sightings are sometimes claimed but have never been confirmed. Cause uncertain, most hypotheses centre on starvation from lack of grass seed after drought, overgrazing, more frequent fires, and introduction of prickly pear. |
Rallus pectoralis clelandi | Lewin's Water Rail (western) | WA | |
Gallirallus philippensis macquariensis | Macquarie Island Rail | Macquarie Island | |
Rhipidura cervina | Lord Howe Fantail | Lord Howe Island | |
Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus | Norfolk Island Thrush, Grey-headed Blackbird | Norfolk Island | |
Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus | Lord Howe Island Thrush | Lord Howe Island | |
Zosterops albogularis | White-chested White-eye, Norfolk Island Silvereye | Norfolk Island | The IUCN considers this species endangered; it is listed as extinct under the EPBC act since it has not been officially documented for over 20 years. |
Zosterops strenuus | Robust White-eye | Lord Howe Island | Early 1920s. Predation by Rattus rattus |
[edit] Amphibians
The reason for the decline and extinction of these frog species is unclear, decline in frog populations is an international phenomenon.
Species | Common Name | Location(s) | Comments |
Rheobatrachus silus | Gastric-brooding Frog | QLD | Last wild specimen recorded in 1981 |
Rheobatrachus vitellinus | Eungella Gastric-brooding Frog | QLD | Last wild specimen recorded in 1985 |
Taudactylus acutirostris | Sharp-snouted Day Frog, Sharp-snouted Torrent Frog | QLD | Last wild specimen recorded in 1997 |
Taudactylus diurnus | Southern Day Frog, Mt Glorious Torrent Frog | QLD | Last wild specimen recorded in 1979 |
[edit] Reptiles
The reason for the decline and extinction of these frog species is unclear, decline in frog populations is an international phenomenon.
Species | Common Name | Location(s) | Comments |
Liasis burtoni | Southern Australia Python | SA, QLD | Last wild specimen recorded in 1981 |
Talalihous ater | Harlequin Lizard | TAS | Last wild specimen recorded in 1985 |
Chelodina buxtoni | Queensland Snakenecked Turtle | SA | Last wild specimen recorded in 1997 |
Varanus loi | Norfolk Island Monitor lizard | Norfolk Islands | Last wild specimen recorded in 1979 |
[edit] Mammals
Species | Common Name | Location(s) | Comments |
Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi | Eastern Bettong (mainland) | NSW, QLD, SA, VIC | |
Bettongia lesueur graii | Boodie, Burrowing Bettong (inland) | WA | |
Bettongia penicillata penicillata | Brush-tailed Bettong (south-east mainland) | NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA | |
Phascolarctos cinerus cottin | Western Koala | WA | |
Caloprymnus campestris | Desert Rat-kangaroo | QLD, SA | |
Chaeropus ecaudatus | Pig-footed Bandicoot | NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA | 1950s |
Conilurus albipes | White-footed Rabbit-rat | NSW, QLD, SA, VIC | |
Lagorchestes asomatus | Central Hare-wallaby | NT | 1935 |
Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus | Rufous Hare-wallaby (south-west mainland) | NT, SA, WA | |
Lagorchestes leporides | Eastern Hare-wallaby | NSW, QLD, SA, VIC | 1890 |
Lagostrophus fasciatus albipilis | Banded Hare-wallaby (mainland) | WA | |
Leporillus apicalis | Lesser Stick-nest Rat | NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA | 1933 |
Macropus eugenii eugenii | Tammar Wallaby (South Australia) | SA | Population Rediscovered in New Zealand |
Macropus greyi | Toolache Wallaby | SA, VIC | 1932 |
Macrotis leucura | Lesser Bilby | NT, QLD, SA | 1931 |
Notomys amplus | Short-tailed Hopping-mouse | NT, SA | 1896 |
Notomys longicaudatus | Long-tailed Hopping-mouse | NT, SA, WA | |
Notomys macrotis | Big-eared Hopping-mouse | WA | 1843 |
Notomys mordax | Darling Downs Hopping-mouse | NSW, QLD | 1846 |
Nyctophilus howensis | Lord Howe Long-eared Bat | Lord Howe Island | |
Onychogalea lunata | Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby | SA, WA | |
Perameles bougainville fasciata | Western Barred Bandicoot (mainland) | NSW, VIC | |
Perameles eremiana | Desert Bandicoot | NT, SA, WA | |
Potorous platyops | Broad-faced Potoroo | WA | 1865 |
Pseudomys gouldii | Gould's Mouse | NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, WA | |
Rattus macleari | Maclear's Rat | Christmas Island | 1908 |
Rattus nativitatis | Bulldog Rat | Christmas Island | |
Thylacinus cynocephalus | Thylacine, Tasmanian Tiger | TAS | 1936 |
[edit] Invertebrates
Several Australian Invertebrates have been listed by the World Conservation Union as having become extinct. However they are not listed as extinct under Australian legislation.
Species | Common Name | Location(s) | Comments | |
Hypolimnus pedderensis | Lake Pedder Earthworm | TAS | Probably extinct in 1972, confirmed in 1996 | |
Romankenkius pedderensis | Lake Pedder Planarian | TAS | Probably extinct in 1972, confirmed in 1986 [1] | |
Tornelasmias capricorni | [2] | |||
Austrogammarus australis | Rediscovered. Status requires updating [3] | |||
Beddomeia tumida | 1996 [4] | |||
Angrobia dulvertonensis | 1996 [5] | |||
Placostylus bivaricosus etheridgei | [6] |
[edit] See also[edit] References
the victorianitera extinct around 10 000 bc named after the queen vicotria as she discovered some fosils |
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_animals_of_Australia