10 most extinct animals:
#1: Tyrannosaurus Rex (extinct 65 million years ago):
Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest land carnivores of all time, measuring
up to 43.3 feet long, and 16.6 ft tall. Like other tyrannosaurids, Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail and has tiny arms. Tyrannosaurus forelimbs were small and they retained only two
digits. Fossils of T. rex have been found in North American rock
formations dating to the last three million years of the Cretaceous Period at
the end of the Maastrichtian stage, about 68.5 to 65.5 million years
ago; it was among the last dinosaurs to exist prior to the Cretaceous-Tertiary
extinction event. More than 30 specimens of T. rex have been identified, some
of which are nearly complete skeletons. Some researchers have discovered soft
tissue as well. The abundance of fossil material has allowed significant
research into many aspects of its biology, including life history and
biomechanics.
up to 43.3 feet long, and 16.6 ft tall. Like other tyrannosaurids, Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail and has tiny arms. Tyrannosaurus forelimbs were small and they retained only two
digits. Fossils of T. rex have been found in North American rock
formations dating to the last three million years of the Cretaceous Period at
the end of the Maastrichtian stage, about 68.5 to 65.5 million years
ago; it was among the last dinosaurs to exist prior to the Cretaceous-Tertiary
extinction event. More than 30 specimens of T. rex have been identified, some
of which are nearly complete skeletons. Some researchers have discovered soft
tissue as well. The abundance of fossil material has allowed significant
research into many aspects of its biology, including life history and
biomechanics.
#2: Quagga: half zebra, half horse (extinct since 1883):
One of Africa's most famous extinct animals, the quagga was a subspecies of the
plains zebra, which was once found in great numbers in South Africa's Cape
Province and the southern part of the Orange Free State. It was distinguished
from other zebras by having the usual vivid marks on the front part of the body
only. In the mid-section, the stripes faded and the dark, inter-stripe spaces
became wider, and the hindquarters were a plain brown. The name comes from a
Khoikhoi word for zebra and is onomatopoeic, being said to resemble the quagga's call.
The quagga was originally classified as an individual species,
Equus quagga, in 1788. Over the next fifty years or so, many other zebras were
described by naturalists and explorers. Because of the great variation in coat
patterns (no two zebras are alike), taxonomists were left with a great number of
described "species", and no easy way to tell which of these were true species,
which were subspecies, and which were simply natural variants. Long before this
confusion was sorted out, the quagga had been hunted to extinction for meat,
hides, and to preserve feed for domesticated stock. The last wild quagga was
probably shot in the late 1870s, and the last specimen in captivity died on
August 12, 1883 at the Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam.
plains zebra, which was once found in great numbers in South Africa's Cape
Province and the southern part of the Orange Free State. It was distinguished
from other zebras by having the usual vivid marks on the front part of the body
only. In the mid-section, the stripes faded and the dark, inter-stripe spaces
became wider, and the hindquarters were a plain brown. The name comes from a
Khoikhoi word for zebra and is onomatopoeic, being said to resemble the quagga's call.
The quagga was originally classified as an individual species,
Equus quagga, in 1788. Over the next fifty years or so, many other zebras were
described by naturalists and explorers. Because of the great variation in coat
patterns (no two zebras are alike), taxonomists were left with a great number of
described "species", and no easy way to tell which of these were true species,
which were subspecies, and which were simply natural variants. Long before this
confusion was sorted out, the quagga had been hunted to extinction for meat,
hides, and to preserve feed for domesticated stock. The last wild quagga was
probably shot in the late 1870s, and the last specimen in captivity died on
August 12, 1883 at the Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam.
#3: Tasmanian Tiger (extinct since 1936):
The Thylacine was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times.
Native to Australia and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the
20th century. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (due to its striped
back), and also known as the Tasmanian Wolf, and colloquially the Tassie (or
Tazzy) Tiger or simply the Tiger. It was the last extant member of its genus,
Thylacinus, although a number of related species have been found in the fossil
record dating back to the early Miocene.The Thylacine became extinct on
the Australian mainland thousands of years before European settlement of the
continent, but survived on the island of Tasmania along with a number of other
endemic species such as the Tasmanian Devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by
bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors
may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its
habitat. Despite being officially classified as extinct, sightings are still
reported.
Native to Australia and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the
20th century. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (due to its striped
back), and also known as the Tasmanian Wolf, and colloquially the Tassie (or
Tazzy) Tiger or simply the Tiger. It was the last extant member of its genus,
Thylacinus, although a number of related species have been found in the fossil
record dating back to the early Miocene.The Thylacine became extinct on
the Australian mainland thousands of years before European settlement of the
continent, but survived on the island of Tasmania along with a number of other
endemic species such as the Tasmanian Devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by
bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors
may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its
habitat. Despite being officially classified as extinct, sightings are still
reported.
#4: Steller's Sea Cow (extinct since 1768)
Steller's sea cow was a large animal. It was a herbivor (that means it only ate plants).
It was the largest member of the order Sirena, which includes its closest living
relative, the dugong, and the manatees. Although the
sea cow had formerly been abundant throughout the North Pacific, by 1741, when
it was first described by Georg Wilhelm Steller, chief naturalist on an expedition led by explorer Vitus
Bering, its range had been limited to a single, isolated population surrounding the
uninhabited Commander Islands. Within 27 years of discovery
by Europeans, the slow-moving and easily-captured Steller's sea cow was hunted to extinction.
It was the largest member of the order Sirena, which includes its closest living
relative, the dugong, and the manatees. Although the
sea cow had formerly been abundant throughout the North Pacific, by 1741, when
it was first described by Georg Wilhelm Steller, chief naturalist on an expedition led by explorer Vitus
Bering, its range had been limited to a single, isolated population surrounding the
uninhabited Commander Islands. Within 27 years of discovery
by Europeans, the slow-moving and easily-captured Steller's sea cow was hunted to extinction.
#5: Irish Deer: the largest deer that ever lived (extinct about 7,700 years ago)
It was one of the largest deer that ever lived and one of the strongest, it is said that this deer survived the Ice Age (studys have showed this)
Although most skeletons have been found in Irish bogs, the animal was not exclusively Irish and was not closely related to either of the living species currently called elk Alces alces (the European elk, known in North America as the moose)
or Cervus canadensis (the North American elk or wapiti); for
this reason, the name "Giant Deer" is used in some publications.
Although most skeletons have been found in Irish bogs, the animal was not exclusively Irish and was not closely related to either of the living species currently called elk Alces alces (the European elk, known in North America as the moose)
or Cervus canadensis (the North American elk or wapiti); for
this reason, the name "Giant Deer" is used in some publications.
#6: Caspian Tiger: the third largest (extinct since 1954-1959)
The Caspian tiger specie had been pretty well wiped out at the beginning of the
20th century, when the Russian government was setting up rice and cotton fields
in forests these tigers inhabited. The army was ordered to exterminate all
tigers found near the Caspian sea. The Caspian tiger, a sub-specie of the
Siberian tiger, went extinct sometime between 1954-1959 and while there have
been a few reported sightings, one in the 1970s and another in 1997, these
claims have never been confirmed.
20th century, when the Russian government was setting up rice and cotton fields
in forests these tigers inhabited. The army was ordered to exterminate all
tigers found near the Caspian sea. The Caspian tiger, a sub-specie of the
Siberian tiger, went extinct sometime between 1954-1959 and while there have
been a few reported sightings, one in the 1970s and another in 1997, these
claims have never been confirmed.
#7: Dodo: (extinct since 1681)
The Dodo is an extinct and flightless bird which was discovered in the 1598 and was extinct by 1681 the Dodo was about one metre tall and may have weighed 10-18kg
#8: Cave Lion: (extinct 14,000 years ago)
Scientists think that the Cave Lion became extinct across Europe and Asia because a warmer climate got rid of there hunting arenas.
#9: The great auk: (extinct since mid-19th century)
The Great Auk inhabited the rocky coasts and
islands of the North Atlantic from Virginia, Scotland,
Shetland and Ireland to Greenland and Iceland,
almost to the Arctic Circle.The Great Auk's egg was almost 12 centimeters in
length. One hundred years
ago almost one hundred specimens of the Great Auk's eggs were known to exist
and were sold to enthusiastic collectors for as much as £300.Related to puffins
and albatross the Great Auk was also known
as Garefowl and
Penguin
islands of the North Atlantic from Virginia, Scotland,
Shetland and Ireland to Greenland and Iceland,
almost to the Arctic Circle.The Great Auk's egg was almost 12 centimeters in
length. One hundred years
ago almost one hundred specimens of the Great Auk's eggs were known to exist
and were sold to enthusiastic collectors for as much as £300.Related to puffins
and albatross the Great Auk was also known
as Garefowl and
Penguin
#10: Passenger Pigeon:
The earliest settlers in the New World were amazed by the passenger pigeon. Any farmer who had the misfortune of hosting passenger pigeons for a meal would
quickly find his entire crop eaten. Then over night they all disappered. And noone has seen them yet
quickly find his entire crop eaten. Then over night they all disappered. And noone has seen them yet