There have been notables times in the life of our planet where massive extinctions have occurred.
According to this Wikipedia page on the extinction of animals, there have been at least five mass extinctions in the history of life on Earth, and four in the last 350 million years. Many species have died out quickly in recent geological history.

Table of Contents
What is the extinction of a species?
The extinction of a species is the death of the last existing member of that species. The achieve this, a species must go through a very long period without reproducing. This can happen slowly, as the environment changes and the species becomes less and less adapted to it, or it can happen quickly, as in the case of a natural disaster or human intervention.
Below is a list and description of 7 extinct species;
- The Passenger Pigeon: The passenger pigeon was once the most common bird in North America, with a population estimated at 3 billion. However, due to massive hunting and habitat loss, the species went extinct in the wild by 1900. The last known passenger pigeon, named Martha, died in captivity in 1914.
- The Dodo: The dodo was a flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius. It was around 3 feet tall and weighed about 40 pounds. The dodo became extinct due to human hunting and habitat loss. The last known dodo died in 1681.
- The Great Auk: The great auk was a large, flightless bird that lived in the North Atlantic. It was around 3 feet tall and weighed about 10 pounds. The great auk became extinct due to human hunting and habitat loss. The last known great auk died in 1844.
- The Quagga: The quagga was a subspecies of the Plains Zebra that lived in South Africa. It was around 6 feet long and weighed about 700 pounds. The quagga became extinct due to human hunting and habitat loss. The last known quagga died in 1883.
- The Tasmanian Tiger: The Tasmanian tiger was a large, carnivorous marsupial that lived in Australia and New Guinea. It was around 6 feet long and weighed about 150 pounds. The Tasmanian tiger became extinct due to human hunting and habitat loss. The last known Tasmanian tiger died in 1936.
- The Wooly Mammoth: The woolly mammoth was a large, herbivorous mammal that lived in the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It was around 14 feet tall and weighed about 6 tons. The woolly mammoth became extinct due to human hunting and climate change. The last known woolly mammoth died in 1650.
- The Moa: The moa was a large, flightless bird that lived in New Zealand. It was around 12 feet tall and weighed about 500 pounds. The moa became extinct due to human hunting and habitat loss. The last known moa died in 1445.
What is an endangered species?
An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. Species become endangered for many reasons, including habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. When a species’ population gets too low, it becomes vulnerable to these threats. If the population continues to decline, the species may eventually go extinct.
Below is a list put together by Worldwilflife.org on all the endangered animal species;
African savanna elephant | Loxodonta africana africana | Endangered |
African Wild Dog | Lycaon pictus | Endangered |
Asian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | Endangered |
Black-footed Ferret | Mustela nigripes | Endangered |
Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | Endangered |
Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus Thynnus | Endangered |
Bonobo | Pan paniscus | Endangered |
Bornean Elephant | Elephas maximus borneensis | Endangered |
Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | Endangered |
Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Endangered |
Galápagos Penguin | Spheniscus mendiculus | Endangered |
Ganges River Dolphin | Platanista gangetica gangetica | Endangered |
Green Turtle | Chelonia mydas | Endangered |
Hector’s Dolphin | Cephalorhynchus hectori | Endangered |
Humphead Wrasse | Cheilinus undulatus | Endangered |
Indian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | Endangered |
Indus River Dolphin | Platanista minor | Endangered |
Irrawaddy Dolphin | Orcaella brevirostris | Endangered |
Mountain Gorilla | Gorilla beringei beringei | Endangered |
North Atlantic Right Whale | Eubalaena glacialis | Endangered |
Red Panda | Ailurus fulgens | Endangered |
Sea Lions | Zalophus wollebaeki | Endangered |
Sea Turtle | Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae families | Endangered |
Sei Whale | Balaenoptera borealis | Endangered |
Sri Lankan Elephant | Elephas maximus maximus | Endangered |
Tiger | Panthera tigris | Endangered |
Whale | Balaenoptera, Balaena, Eschrichtius, and Eubalaen | Endangered |
Whale Shark | Rhincodon typus | Endangered |
What is a critically endangered species?
A critically endangered species is a species that is at very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild. Critically endangered species are usually categorized as such when their populations have declined by 80% or more.
Below is a list put together by Worldwilflife.org on all the critically endangered animal species;
COMMON NAME | SCIENTIFIC NAME | CONSERVATION STATUS ↓ |
---|---|---|
African forest elephant | Critically Endangered | |
Amur Leopard | Panthera pardus orientalis | Critically Endangered |
Black Rhino | Diceros bicornis | Critically Endangered |
Bornean Orangutan | Pongo pygmaeus | Critically Endangered |
Cross River Gorilla | Gorilla gorilla diehli | Critically Endangered |
Eastern Lowland Gorilla | Gorilla beringei graueri | Critically Endangered |
Hawksbill Turtle | Eretmochelys imbricata | Critically Endangered |
Javan Rhino | Rhinoceros sondaicus | Critically Endangered |
Orangutan | Pongo abelii, Pongo pygmaeus | Critically Endangered |
Saola | Pseudoryx nghetinhensis | Critically Endangered |
Sumatran Elephant | Elephas maximus sumatranus | Critically Endangered |
Sumatran Orangutan | Pongo abelii | Critically Endangered |
Sumatran Rhino | Dicerorhinus sumatrensis | Critically Endangered |
Sunda Tiger | Panthera tigris sondaica | Critically Endangered |
Vaquita | Phocoena sinus | Critically Endangered |
Western Lowland Gorilla | Gorilla gorilla gorilla | Critically Endangered |
Yangtze Finless Porpoise | Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis | Critically Endangered |
This can happen for many reasons, including habitat loss, disease, predation, and climate change. If a species’ population continues to decline, it may eventually become extinct.
Causes of Animal Extinction
There are many reasons why a species might become endangered or critically endangered. Habitat loss is perhaps the most significant threat to wildlife populations today. Human activities like deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization destroy natural habitats and fragment the remaining ones. This can lead to decreased resources and increased competition for food and shelter, both of which can put a species at risk.
Illegal hunting and poaching are also major threats to wildlife populations. In some cases, people hunt animals for their meat or fur. In others, they may kill them because they view them as pests. Either way, this can lead to a decline in a species population.
Climate change is another significant threat to wildlife populations. As the Earth’s climate changes, it can cause shifts in habitats and make them unsuitable for certain species. This can lead to decreased resources and increased competition, both of which can put a species at risk.
Extinction is a natural process that has occurred throughout the history of life on Earth. However, human activity is causing extinctions to occur at an unprecedented rate. If we do not take action to protect endangered and critically endangered species, many more will die out.
There are many ways to help protect endangered and critically endangered species. One way is to support organizations that are working to conserve them. You can also help by reducing your own impact on the environment. This includes things like recycling, conserving energy, and avoiding products made from endangered wildlife.
If we all work together, we can help protect endangered and critically endangered species and prevent them from going extinct.
FAQs
Are bearded dragons endangered?
No, bearded dragons are not currently endangered. However, their populations are declining due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. If this trend continues, they may eventually become endangered. According to the IUCN Red List, they are currently classified as “near threatened.”
What is the difference between an endangered species and a critically endangered species?
An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. Species become endangered for many reasons, including habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. When a species’ population gets too low, it becomes vulnerable to these threats. If the population continues to decline, the species may eventually go extinct.
A critically endangered species is a species that is at very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild. Critically endangered species are usually categorized as such when their populations have declined by 80% or more. This can happen for many reasons, including habitat loss, disease, predation, and climate change. If a species’ population continues to decline, it may eventually become extinct.
Are there any Critically Endangered species in the United States?
Yes, there are several Critically Endangered species in the United States. These include the Hawaiian Monk Seal, the California condor, and the whooping crane.
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com