Every year more species of animals become completely extinct, although initially this is a natural event, today the species are threatened mainly by the intervention of the human being in all ecosystems, learn more about the Extinct species just here.
Extinct species
The extinction of species is a very normal event, it occurs even long before man came into the world and we refer specifically to when the last specimen of a family of animals perishes. Although it could also be considered when there are still some animals belonging to this family, but for different reasons, they could not procreate more offspring and preserve the species.
Extinction has occurred for millions of years to millions of different animal species and this can occur for many reasons, for example; There is a theory that the dinosaurs became extinct due to the collision of an asteroid with the earth, which killed all these individuals. However, the main reason attributed to the extinction of species in recent centuries is the influence of human beings.
Many believe that these extinct animals disappeared many years ago and that this event no longer happens today, but the reality is different, since although there are many specimens whose life lapse was millions of years ago and their extinction was due to natural causes, the truth is that today Today this happens many more times than is believed.
We must bear in mind that thousands of different animals die every day, which opens the way for an increase in the percentage of Extinct species annually. This is the reason that today there are many species of animals that are in danger of extinction.
The worst of all these is that not all these specimens necessarily belong to a particular taxonomic group or to a specific region, but rather the animals that are under threat are of very varied characteristics and are spread throughout the world, giving end to Megadiversity of species in many parts of planet earth.
Causes of Extinction
Initially, the decline of species is due to natural causes, either by some event or phenomenon related to the forces that influence all the elements of the earth.
In part this also functioned to control the number of species in existence and as natural selection, where specimens that did not possess the traits necessary for survival appeared, giving way to the preservation of species that possess the qualities necessary to survive the environmental conditions.
However, we should note that the number of Extinct species has increased enormously in the last centuries and this is mainly due to the influence of the human being on the earth, since the consequences of the Environmental deterioration they have a very strong impact on the earth and all species of living beings, especially animals.
The amount of animals extinct by man is very large and the reasons that have led to this are many, the human being is responsible both directly and indirectly, since the hunting and commercialization of animals (either to obtain their skins or capture them to keep them as pets), is a very common activity today and can occur anywhere in the world with many species of animals.
On the other hand, pollution, overpopulation, climate change and many other factors (mainly attributed to human activities), can also greatly influence the extinction of species, as this causes the deterioration of many ecosystems and consequently, the death of many species of living beings.
What Animals are Extinct?
It is currently believed that there are many species that become extinct in a year, on average it is estimated that there are 5, however, this number could even be double due to the alarming speed with which animals die daily. There are social movements that serve to make humanity aware of the extinction of species, however, there are one or another that focus on a specific species.
For example, there is the "Save the Frogs" movement, because according to studies, when there is a massive decline of frogs or some amphibians, many other animal species are also affected, all this leads to the death of many animals and some organisms.
Here is a list of 10 species of recently extinct animals and many others that have perished millions of years ago.
- irish elk: The exact region of origin of this species is not known and the name comes mainly because this is the area where most fossil specimens were found. It was the largest moose that has been known and the most distinctive thing, apart from its great height, could be its enormous horns that could even exceed the length of its body.
Something very interesting is that the horns of the males used to fall during the mating season, to grow back in a period of approximately one year. It is estimated that the behavior of this species was not very different from that of common deer, which remained in groups and attentive to any sighting of a nearby enemy.
Among the studies that have been carried out there are several possible reasons for the disappearance of these animals, but the most feasible and accepted by experts is that there could have been a change in the structure of many plants that served as food for these moose and that thanks to This did not obtain the necessary nutrients to survive.
- bucardo: Since the geological time period (when Neanderthal man ruled the earth), this species was highly valued, mainly because man hunted it a lot since it was included in his usual diet. It was also a very persecuted animal due to the enormous antlers it possessed and that many hunters wanted to possess for their exhibition.
Although the commercialization of these species had a lot to do with their extinction, one reason that was very influential is the natural variation of the climate around the entire planet and this caused a massive shortage of nutrients, consequently the conflicts to appropriate the little food that there was were very normal and this forced them to face species that beat them in size and strength, quickly leading them to their death.
It was considered an officially extinct species in 2000, when its last specimen died in Europe.
- Caribbean monk seal: As their name indicates, these animals were found mostly in the extension of the Caribbean Sea, especially on the coasts of islands such as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
At first, sailors thought it was a sea lion (which is located on the coasts of South American countries), however, after a while it was identified as a separate species. The navigator Christopher Columbus was one of the first to document the animal, he described it as a majestic specimen, with a very self-conscious attitude and perfect skin for fur.
This is the main cause of its extinction, since the publicity that was given to the European colonizers hastened its search and capture for profitable purposes. Although it was also hunted as a collectible species and because it was believed to be a threat to the conservation of the different species of fish.
- Saber-toothed tiger: It was one of the strongest and most robust felines that existed, this was a great advantage when it came to obtaining its food, since its diet was based on large animals, such as horses, camels, buffalo and even large mammoths, which they were species with which it was necessary to use all their strength to knock them down or stun them momentarily, long enough to attack some vital area.
Distinctive for having large fangs that could measure up to 17 centimeters long, but which they used only in important cases or to launch a deadly attack on their prey, since if they were forced too much they could detach from the gum.
The main cause of its extinction is very curious, which occurred after several years in which its main prey became extinct or moved to other Biomes, then its great diet was greatly affected and for the organism the small species that it engulfed were not enough, leading them to their total extinction.
- woolly mammoth: Known as one of the largest mammals that lived in the ice age, it had an extensive amount of fur around its entire body, which protected it from the low temperatures that prevailed in the place and its huge fangs defended it against the possible predators, since in the case of landing a blow, this could be fatal in most cases.
Although although you are Extinct species They were very dangerous when facing an enemy, they are also characterized as peaceful animals that fed on plants and fruits that were within their reach. Herds that were mainly made up of females and some offspring usually gathered, the males moving away when they reached maturity.
There are many theories linked to the extinction of this species, one could be hunting by humans to keep their skins as a coat and feed on their fat, another would be that when the ice age came to an end, these animals could not adapt to the new climatic conditions.
- Plains Zebra: The case of this species is very particular, since it is one of the few animals that science has managed to bring back from extinction. How is this? You may wonder, in summary, there are several scientific programs that have tried to recover many extinct species based on the DNA obtained from the animal, although they are very difficult objectives, in this case we can say that it is partially successful.
It was also an animal known as Quagga, it went from being confused with the common zebra, to later be identified as a separate animal to this species and finally it was considered as a direct family of the zebra. It was very distinctive for its varied colors and the extravagant way its stripes were positioned, extending across the top half and almost disappearing in the bottom half.
This species became extinct at the hands of man, due to different hunting activities that led to imminent extinction. When they were hunted it was to obtain their meat as food and their skin to make clothing, since this was more durable than the skin of other animals. In addition to that they were the main target in a massive hunt to get rid of the wild animals of the plain and make room for cattle.
- Dodo: It is one of the birds that are most easily related to Extinct species, the duration of their existence and spread throughout the world lasted very little time, for this reason, the information that was obtained from these birds is not much. They came from the islands located in the Indian Ocean, but after their discovery, they were transferred to Europe, a place where they did not last long.
They were a very docile and manageable species, because in their original habitat they had no predators and that is why they developed without even the anguish of being alert at all times, for this reason it was so easy for humans to remove and move it, taking the poor animal to its final extinction.
Physically they were larger than the average bird and had characteristics that can be compared to other species, such as the shape of the body was like that of a hen, but larger and heavier, while the beak resembled that of a toucan, reaching exceed even 20 centimeters in length. Their short legs could barely make them walk very clumsily, but they had enough strength to make them run.
- imperial auk: Known as the largest penguin that ever lived, they had an appearance similar to that of the common penguin (who was given that name after the extinction of the Alca), with white fur on the belly and black on the wings and back , with a shape that could also resemble a swan because of its way of swimming, lying on its belly, hiding its wings and propelling itself through the water with its legs.
This species, like many others, turned out to have very bad luck with its survival instincts, finding itself at a disadvantage when it was discovered by humans, who longed to obtain its skin and meat to benefit from it.
A factor that was also very influential in its extinction was that its reproductive process took a long time, because as the male had only one partner and it deposited a single egg, together with the long gestation period, the chances that the egg would be lost. or stolen, they were very high.
- Sea Raven: Also known oystercatcher canary, in its time it was recognized as a very exotic and unusual bird among the other specimens, a subspecies from the black oystercatcher, with the difference of having white-tinted feathers in some parts of its anatomy.
The main reason that gave way to becoming Extinct species It was due to the invasion of their ecosystem and alteration at the hands of man and other species that came with him, in addition to the fact that the capture of fish left these birds without a good source of food from which to sustain themselves.
All these reasons forced this species to change its habitat, it is presumed that they were unable to adapt to any space and that this was what ended their extinction.
- Japanese Sea Lion: This is a species that, although its extinction was made official in the 70s, many experts assure that in reality they only moved their habitat and in that case their whereabouts would be unknown until today.
The experts were not entirely sure when defining them as an independent species, however, this could be done after some characteristics did not coincide with the other species of seals and sea lions. Its name was given thanks to the fact that they moved through the seas and coasts of Japan, and some Asian countries.
They were the target of many explorations for fishing purposes, because their meat and skin had many materials that were used for the production of lubricants and ointments, in just one year thousands of animals belonging to this species could be obtained, which could take them quickly to extinction, this only in case they are completely extinct.
Animals close to being Extinct Species
Originally, all species are born in a biome for which they are adapted by default, when they change habitats it is usually for many reasons. For example; there are animals that need to migrate to other areas to escape the climatic changes that occur naturally in each region, such as birds.
On the other hand, a very common fact is that the habitat of these animals is altered in some way, many times it is due to some natural phenomenon and the ecosystem returns to its natural state in a non-specific period of time, however, lately this event occurs at the hands of man and human nature, since when the human being moves to a natural area, it completely alters it and the species that live there are seriously affected.
Although the following animals are not on the list of Extinct species, are very close to belonging to it, for the many reasons that lead animals to extinction today.
- Polar Bear
- Chimpanzee
- Southern White Rhino
- Panda
- Bluefin tuna
- Gorilla
- Sumatra tiger
- bornean orangutan