A partial list of post-1500 CE mammalian extinctions

Most people are somewhat familiar with the fact that several mammalian species have gone extinct due to human activity over the past few centuries. However, it may be surprising to comprehend that the number of mammals lost recently goes well into the dozens. As a partial list of post-1500 CE mammalian extinctions, this page is a primer to the gap humanity has left in nature.

There are few megafaunas here, with most species being on the smaller side. Rodents in particular are well represented. Still, the loss of a species of rat or mouse is just as much of a tragedy as that of more charismatic icons of extinction, such as sea cows or thylacines. Environmental conservation is about preserving all lifeforms, and the plight of small organisms is too often overlooked.

Often, species here are extinct as the result of invasive predators or competitors, such as red foxes. Note too that many species originate on islands such as Madagascar or Samoa. Islands are fragile laboratories for creating new kinds of life and human colonization of them has resulted in the vanishing of some truly extraordinary animals.

Subspecies aren’t included here, so you won’t find extirpated populations of brown bears or lions. The disappearance of those creatures is still noteworthy but is outside of the scope of this list.

Species are sorted by their zoological family. Keep in mind that this list is partial now. I plan to update this list as new information is brought to light.

 

Thylacinidae: Thylacinids

Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus)

 

Thylacomyidae: Bilbies

Lesser Bilby (Macrotis leucura)


Perameles eremiana

Peramelidae: Bandicoots

Desert Bandicoot (Perameles eremiana)

New South Wales Barred Bandicoot (Perameles fasciata)

Southwestern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles myosuros)

Southern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles notina)

Ooldea Barred Bandicoot (Perameles papillon)


Chaeropodidae: Pig-footed Bandicoots

Southern Pig-footed Bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus)

Northern Pig-footed Bandicoot (Chaeropus yirratji)

 

Potoroidae: “Primal” Macropods

Desert Bettong (Bettongia anhydra)

Nullarbor Dwarf Bettong (Bettongia pusilla)

Desert Rat Kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris)

Broad-faced Potoroo (Potorous platyops)

 

Macropodidae: “Advanced” Macropods

Central Hare Wallaby (Lagorchestes asomatus)

Eastern Hare Wallaby (Lagorchestes leporides)

Toolache Wallaby (Notamacropus greyi)

Crescent Nail-tailed Wallaby (Onychogalea lunata)


Hydrodamalis gigas


Dugongidae: Dugongs and kin

Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas)

 

Nesophontidae: Nesophontes

Puerto Rican Nesophontes (Nesophontes edithae)

Cayman Nesophontes (Nesophontes hemicingulus)

Atalaye Nesophontes (Nesophontes hypomicrus)

Greater Cuban Nesophontes (Nesophontes major)

Lesser Cuban Nesophontes (Nesophontes micrus)

Saint Michel Nesophontes (Nesophontes paramicrus)

Haitian Nesophontes (Nesophontes zamicrus)

 

Solenodontidae: Solenodons

Giant Solenodon (Giant Solenodon)

Marcano's Solenodon (Solenodon marcanoi)

 

Pteropodidae: Megabats

Small Samoan Flying Fox (Pteropus allenorum)

Percy Island Flying Fox (Pteropus brunneus)

Large Samoan Flying Fox (Pteropus coxi)

Large Palau Flying Fox (Pteropus pilosus)

Lesser Mascarene Flying Fox (Pteropus subniger)

Guam Flying Fox (Pteropus tokudae)

 

Vespertilionidae: Vesper Bats

Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi)

Sturdee's Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus sturdeei)

 

Eupleridae: Euplerids

Giant Fossa (Cryptoprocta spelea)

 

Canidae: Canids

Falkland Warrah (Dusicyon australis)

Argentinean Warrah (Dusicyon avus)

 

Mustelidae: Mustelids

Japanese Otter (Lutra nippon)

Sea Mink (Neogale macrodon)

 

Otariidae: Otariids

Japanese Sea Lion (Zalophus japonicus)


Neomonachus tropicalis

Phocidae: Phocids

Caribbean Monk Seal (Neomonachus tropicalis)


Bovidae: Bovids

Aurochs (Bos primigenius)

Red Gazelle (Eudorcas rufina)

Bluebuck (Hippotragus leucophaeus)

 

Cervidae: Cervids

Schomburgk's Deer (Rucervus schomburgki)

 

Hippopotamidae: Hippopotamids

Lemerle's Dwarf Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus lemerlei)

Madagascan Dwarf Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus madagascariensis)

 

Archaeolemuridae: Monkey Lemurs

Edwards's Monkey Lemur (Archaeolemur edwardsi)

 

Palaeopropithecidae: Sloth Lemurs

Large Sloth Lemur (Palaeopropithecus ingens)

 

Megaladapidae: Koala Lemurs

Koala Lemur (Megaladapis madagascariensis)

 

Pitheciidae: Pitheciids

Jamaican Monkey (Xenothrix mcgregori)

 

Prolagidae: European Pikas

Sardinian Pika (Prolagus sardus)

 

Chinchillidae: Chinchillas and kin

Peruvian Plains Viscacha (Lagostomus crassus)

 

Echimyidae: Echimyids

Oriente Cave Rat (Boromys offella)

Torre's Cave Rat (Boromys torrei)

Hispaniolan Edible Rat (Brotomys voratus)

Little Swan Island Hutia (Geocapromys thoracatus)

Insular Cave Rat (Heteropsomys insulans)

Imposter Hutia (Hexolobodon phenax)

Wide-toothed Hutia (Hyperplagiodontia araeum)

Montane Hutia (Isolobodon montanus)

Puerto Rican Hutia (Isolobodon portoricensis)

Samana Hutia (Plagiodontia ipnaeum)

Lemke's Hutia (Rhizoplagiodontia lemkei)


Cricetidae: Cricetids

Martinique Giant Rice Rat (Megalomys desmarestii)

Saint Lucia Giant Rice Rat (Megalomys luciae)

Galapagos Giant Rat (Megaoryzomys curioi)

Darwin's Galapagos Mouse (Nesoryzomys darwini)

Indefatigable Galápagos Mouse (Nesoryzomys indefessus)

Vespucci's Rat (Noronhomys vespuccii)

Saint Vincent Pygmy Rice Rat (Oligoryzomys victus)

Jamaican Rice Rat (Oryzomys antillarum)

Tres Marias Rice Rat (Oryzomys nelsoni)

Pemberton's Deermouse (Peromyscus pembertoni)


Conilurus albipes

Muridae: Murids

White-footed Rabbit Rat (Conilurus albipes)

Capricorn Rabbit Rat (Conilurus capricornensis)

Buehler's Giant Rat (Coryphomys buehleri)

Musser's Giant Rat (Coryphomys musseri)

Lesser Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus apicalis)

Bramble Cay Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys rubicola)

Short-tailed Hopping Mouse (Notomys amplus)

Long-tailed Hopping Mouse (Notomys longicaudatus)

Big-eared Hopping Mouse (Notomys macrotis)

Darling Downs Hopping Mouse (Notomys mordax)

Blue-grey Mouse (Pseudomys glaucus)

Maclear's Rat (Rattus macleari)

Bulldog Rat (Rattus nativitatis)

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