Boana cymbalum (Bokermann)

Campo Grande Treefrog (Boana cymbalum)

The Campo Grande Treefrog is known from only six specimens that were found in the early 1960s at two sites in São Paulo, Brazil.

The only known localities of this species are now destroyed and despite dozens of targeted surveys, the species has never been recorded since 1963 and thus is officially considered to be extinct.

***

Hyla cymbalum Bokermann

*********************

edited: 28.02.2024

Dicliptera abuensis Blatt.

Mt. Abu Dicliptera (Dicliptera abuensis)

The Mt. Abu Dicliptera was described in 1931; the species is known only from the type that was collected in 1916.

The species was endemic to the Dhobi Ghats at Mount Abu in Rajasthan, India, where it inhabited wet and shady habitats.

***

The photo below shows a related taxon, the Panicled Foldwing (Dicliptera paniculata (Forssk.) I. Darbysh.), which is also found in Rajasthan, India.

*********************

Panicled Foldwing (Dicliptera paniculata)

Photo: Sonu Kumar
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/sonukumar055
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 12.02.2024

Sympterichthys unipennis (Cuvier)

Smooth Handfish (Sympterichthys unipennis)

The Smooth Handfish, described in 1817, is known from a single specimen (see photo below) that was collected in 1802 (see photo below); it was restricted to a very small area in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel offshore southern Tasmania, Australia.

The species is only about 4.4 cm long; it is strongly compressed and has rough skin without warty protuberances; it is reddish brown, marbled with darker brown.

The Smooth Handfish very likely fell victim to the intensive scallop- and oyster harvesting that went on in the area between the 19th and mid-20th centuries, which dredged every part of the channel, resulting in the destruction of the species’ habitat.

The species was declared extinct in 2020; yet there is still some hope that a small population may have survived somewhere around southern Tasmania.

***

syn. Chironectes unipennis Cuvier

*********************

Photo: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/au/deed.en

*********************

edited: 22.02.2024

Calamus dilaceratus Becc.

Lacerating Calamus Palm (Calamus dilaceratus)

This palm species was described in 1902; it is apparently endemic to Great Nicobar Island in the Nicobar Islands group in the Indian Ocean.

The species is known only by its type, which had been collected in 1888, it is very likely extinct now.

***

The photo below shows an unspecified congeneric species that was photographed on the Nicobar Islands.

*********************

unspecified Calamus palm species (Calamus sp.)

Photo: Jonathan M
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/isidoreajar
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 05.02.2024

Bitoma sp. ‘Rimatara’

Rimataran Bark Beetle (Bitoma sp.)

This up to now undescribed form is known only from subfossil remains, including at least one pronotum and one elytron, that were found on the island of Rimatara in the Austral Islands.

The species had a dark ochre ground color, the elytra were decorated with a pattern of very dark brown square-shaped spots that melted into a complete brown-colored outer margin.

*********************

edited: 02.11.2020

Eugenia guayaquilensis (Kunth.) DC.

Guayaquil Eugenia (Eugenia guayaquilensis)

The Guayaquil Eugenia is known exclusively from the type specimen that was collected some time before 1823 near the city of Guayaquil, the capital city of the Guayas province of Ecuador.

The species was never recorded since and is very likely extinct.

*********************

edited: 18.01.2020

Maoristylus ambagiosus ssp. hinemoa (Powell)

Van Diemen Flax Snail (Maoristylus ambagiosus ssp. priscus)

The Van Diemen Flax snail was described in 1938 based on subfossil specimens.

This form is known from several disjunct populations: “Cape Maria van Diemen (Mainland) about three-quarters of a mile east of worthyi type locality in consolidated dunes (type); many former colonies on south and eastern slopes of Herangi, – 700 feet, down to Te Werahi Stream and Swamp; Twilight Beach between Cape Maria van Diemen and Scott’s Point …; one mile south of Te Paki Stream and one-quarter mile inland in consolidated dunes ….” [1]

Like most other now extinct populations, also this one died out at the end of the Pleistocene/beginning of the Holocene caused by natural reasons.

***

The photo below is thought to show this form.

***

syn. Placostylus ambagiosus ssp. priscus (Powell)

*********************

Photo: Andrew Spurgeon
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/indeynz
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

References:

[1] A. W. B. Powell: On further colonies of Placostylus land snails from northernmost New Zealand. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 4(2): 134-140. 1951

*********************

edited: 06.02.2024

Amastra umbilicata ssp. pluscula Cooke

Kaupulehu Amastra Snail (Amastra umbilicata ssp. pluscula)

The Kaupulehu Amastra Snail, described in 1917, is known from subfossil material that was found at Ka’ūpūlehu at elevations of about 5500 m above sea level in northern Kona on the island of Hawai’i.

This species is very common in its fossil state along the government road between Waimea and North Kona. A number of the specimens have such a fresh appearence [sic] that it does not seem possible that they have been very long dead. Most of the specimens were found in earth under lava blocks. It differs principally from A. ultima by its larger size and less convex whorls. This varietly differs from typical A. umbilicata morticina not only by its larger umbilicus but also by its proportionally wider and larger aperture which is not distinctly angled below, and is much less developed columellar fold.” [1]

*********************

Photo from: ‘C. Montague Cooke: Some new species of Amastra. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 3(3): 1-34. 1917’

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] C. Montague Cooke: Some new species of Amastra. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 3(3): 1-34. 1917

*********************

edited: 04.05.2022

Succinea papillata Pfeiffer

Papillary Amber Snail (Succinea papillata)

The Papillary Amber Snail was described in 1850.

The species was endemic to the island of Ra’iatea, Society Islands, where it was apparently already quite uncommon when it was discovered and described, it is now entirely extinct.

***

syn. Succinea labiata Pease

*********************

References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Land and Freshwater Snails of Tahiti and the other Society Islands. Phelsuma Press, Cambridge 2017

*********************

edited: 26.11.2018

Monarcha sp. ‘Ni’ihau’

Niihau Elepaio (Monarcha sp.)

The island of Ni’ihau, which is located very close to Kaua’i in the Hawaiian Islands, was once covered with typical Hawaiian lowland forests, which now are gone completely.

Today, the island harbors a few sea bird breeding colonies, but once it almost for certain also had several land bird species, some of which might very well have been endemic to the island; among these might have been a distinct form of Elepaio, which otherwise is known to inhabit the islands of Hawai’i, O’ahu and Kaua’i with distinct, island-specific species on each island.

*********************

edited: 07.05.2022

Amastra johnsoni Hyatt & Pilsbry

Johnson’s Amastra Snail (Amastra johnsoni)

Johnson’s Amastra Snail was described in 1911; it was found in Wailuku in the northeastern part of western Maui, Hawaiian Islands.

The shells of this species reach heights of about 1,1 cm; they are nearly imperforate, oblong-conic, rather thin and somewhat glossy, the outlines of the spire are straight above, a little convex below and the whorls nearly flat, they are brown with the last whorl being partially covered with a thin, darker cuticle that has some darker and lighter streaks but no oblique or angular markings. [1]

*********************

Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a. o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata. Vol 21: Achatinellidae (Amastrinae). 1911’  

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a. o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata. Vol 21: Achatinellidae (Amastrinae). 1911

*********************

edited: 16.05.2022

Aspidopterys tomentosa var. hutchinsonii R. C. Srivast.

Hutchinson’s Tomentose Aspidopterys Liana (Aspidopterys tomentosa var. hutchinsonii)

This variety of the Tomentose Aspidopterys Liana (Aspidopterys tomentosa (Blume) A. Juss.) (see photo below) was described in 1985; it is only known from the type material that was found in 1937 (?) somewhere in the Mayurbhanj Hills in Odisha, India.

The plant was never found again since and might well be extinct now.

***

syn. Aspidopterys hutchinsonii Haines

*********************

Tomentose Aspidopterys Liana (Aspidopterys tomentosa), nominate form

Photo: Liu Guangyu
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/liuguangyu
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 15.01.2024

Eulophia grandidieri H. Perrier

Grandidier’s Harlequin Orchid (Eulophia grandidieri)

This terrestrial species is known exclusively from its type which had been collected in 1901 near the city of Toamasina in eastern Madagascar, a region that is now almost completely deforested.

The species is very likely extinct.

*********************

edited: 11.02.2024

Patellapis binghami (Kirby)

Bingham’s Sweat Bee (Patellapis binghami)

This species was described in 1900; it was endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The bee reached a length of about 5.5 cm and a wingspan of about 1.1 cm; the head and the thorax are glossy black, sometimes with a very faint greenish tint, very finely punctured; the abdomen is shining black; the wings are iridescent hyaline with an yellowish-brown neuration. [1]

Bingham’s Sweat Bee was last recorded in 1968; it was never found despite considerable dedicated efforts. [2]

***

syn. Halictus binghami Kirby

*********************

Depiction from: ‘Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900’

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900
[2] D. J. James; P. T. Green; W. F. Humphreys; J. C. Z. Woinarski: Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Records of the Western Australian Museum 34: 55-114. 2019

*********************

edited: 13.02.2024

Saurauia minutiflora K. M. Wong

Small-flowered Saurauia (Saurauia minutiflora)

This species was described in 2017; it is a small, only about 3 m tall treelet that is known only from the type locality at the Sungai Berangan River in the Malaysian part of Borneo.

The only known locality has been affected by the development of the hydroelectric dam which led to the degradation of the forest.

***

The photo below shows an unspecified congeneric species that was photographed on the island of Borneo, Indonesia.

*********************

unspecified Saurauia species (Saurauia sp.)

photo: Shawn O’Donnell
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/shawnodonnell
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

*********************

edited: 20.02.2024

Mimus gundlachii ssp. ‘Barbuda’

Barbuda Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii ssp.)

Today, the Bahama Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii Cabanis) is restricted to the cays off northern Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, as well as Turks and Caicos, where it inhabits semiarid scrubland. However, the species is known from at least two fossil or subfossil bones found on the island of Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda, in the Lesser Antilles. [1]

Given the fact that the birds on Jamaica are treated as a distinct subspecies, I personally assume that the birds from the Lesser Antilles most probably also represented a distinct subspecies, which disappeared probably around the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene border but might in fact have survived for somewhat longer. 

*********************

Bahama Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii); nominate race

Photo: Laura Gooch
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

*********************

References:

[1] Gregory K. Pregill; David W. Steadman; David R. Watters: Late Quaternary vertebrate faunas of the Lesser Antilles: historical components of Caribbean biogeography. Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History 30: 1-51. 1994

*********************

edited: 17.02.2020

Tragia pogostemonoides Radcl.-Sm.

Pogostemon-like Tragia (Tragia pogostemonoides)

This species is only know from the type material that was collected in 1937 at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, an region that is now urbanized, the plant is thus very likely already extinct.

***

The photo below shows an unspecified congeneric taxon that was photographed at a different spot in Tanzania.

*********************

unspecified Tragia species (Tragia sp.)

Photo: monklet
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/monklet
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 12.02.2024

Choreutis ornaticornis (Walsingham)

(Choreutis ornaticornis)

This species was described in 1900 based on ten specimens; it is endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The head is brownish ochreous, mixed with pale cinerous; the thorax is brownish ochreous, becoming dark brownish grey posteriorly; the abdomen is bronzy brownish; the forewings are olivaceous brownish, with two narrow transverse bands of pale cinereous speckling between the base and the middle; the hind wings are dark bronzy brownish, with some faint pale curved streaks running through them before the margin, the underside with two speckled pale cinereous bands.

The species was never found since and is most likely extinct.

***

syn. Simaethis ornaticornis Walsingham

*********************

References:

[1] Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900
[2] D. J. James; P. T. Green; W. F. Humphreys; J. C. Z. Woinarski: Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Records of the Western Australian Museum 34: 55-114. 2019

*********************

edited: 05.01.2024

Tsoukatosia evauemgei Reischütz, Reischütz & Reischütz

EVMG Door Snail (Tsoukatosia evauemgei)  

The EVMG Door Snail (so named after the “Erste Voralberger Malakologische Gesellschaft”) was described in 2012 on the basis of a single subfossil shell that had been found in 2000 in a rubble heap on the Peloponnese in Greece.

The species can be distinguished from its congeners in that the lower lamella is only visible as a straight edge when looking at the mouth at a certain angle.

The shell reaches a height of about 0.98 cm; it is dextral, club-shaped, thin and yellowish white colored.

The EVMG Door Snail may be a cave-dwelling species, and the sole found specimen might be an example that was washed out into the open by the rain. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Alexander Reischütz; Nicole Reischütz; Peter L. Reischütz: Helleniká pantoía, 33. Tsoukatosia evauemgei nov. spec. (Clausiliidae: Pulmonata). Nachrichtenblatt der Ersten Voralberger Malakologischen Gesellschaft 19: 19-20. 2012

*********************

edited: 12.02.2024

Endodonta sp. ‘Barbers Point’

Kalaeloa Endodonta Snail (Endodonta sp.)

The Kalaeloa Endodonta Snail is an undescribed species that is known exclusively from subfossil specimens that had been recovered from coastal deposits at Kalaeloa (Barber’s Point) on the island of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Patrick V. Kirch; Carl C. Christensen: Nonemarine molluscs and paleoecology at Barber’s Point, O’ahu. Prepared for Archaeological Research Center Hawaii, Inc.. Department of Anthropology; Bernice P. Bishop Museum 1-40. 1980

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edited: 22.04.2019

Turricaspia obventicia (Anistratenko in Anistratenko & Prisyazhniuk)

Kiliya Freshwater Snail (Turricaspia obventicia)

This species was descried in 1992; it is known only from the type that was collected from Holocene deposits near the city of Kiliya in the Odessa Region of the Ukraine.

The species most likely died out for natural reasons. [1]

***

syn. Caspia obventicia Anistratenko in Anistratenko & Prisyazhniuk

*********************

References:

[1] Frank P. Wesselingh; Thomas A. Neubauer; Vitaliy V. Anistratenko; Maxim V. Vinarski; Tamara Yanina; Jan Johan ter Poorten; Pavel Kijashko; Christian Albrecht; Olga Yu. Anistratenko; Anouk D’Hont; Pavel Frolov; Alberto Martínez Gándara; Arjan Gittenberger; Aleksandre Gogaladze; Mikhail Karpinsky; Matteo Lattuada; Luis Popa; Arthur F. Sands; Sabrina van de Velde; Justine Vandendorpe; Thomas Wilke: Mollusc species from the Pontocaspian region – an expert opinion list. ZooKeys 827: 31-124. 2019

*********************

edited: 18.11.2021

Begonia wengeri C. E. C. Fisch.

Wenger’s Begonia (Begonia wengeri)

Wenger’s Begonia was described in 1932; it is apparently known exclusively from the type material which was collected on moist shady banks along water bodies in the undergrowth of the evergreen forests in the southern Lushai Hills in Mizoram, India.

The species was not found since and might be extinct.

***

The photo below shows another, unspecified congeneric species that was photographed in Mizoram, India.

*********************

unspecified Begonia species (Begonia sp.)

Photo: Kedar
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/kedartambe
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 15.08.2022

Maoristylus ambagiosus ssp. hinemoa (Powell)

Hinemoa Flax Snail (Maoristylus ambagiosus ssp. hinemoa)

The Hinemoa Flax snail was described in 1947 based on subfossil specimens.

This form was apparently restricted to Cape Maria van Diemen, the westernmost point of New Zealand’s North Island; however, the taxon’s author says: “Restricted to the Island.” [1], thus it appears that this form was probably restricted to the northernmost part of the cape, which is an island that is now joined to the rest of the area by drifting sand.

Again, this is very likely a case of natural extinction due to changes in climate at the end of the Pleistocene.

***

syn. Placostylus ambagiosus ssp. hinemoa Powell

*********************

References:

[1] A. W. B. Powell: On further colonies of Placostylus land snails from northernmost New Zealand. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 4(2): 134-140. 1951

*********************

edited: 06.02.2024

Trechus torretassoi Jeannel

Torretasso’s Ground Beetle (Trechus torretassoi)

Torretasso’s Ground Beetle was described in 1937, the species was endemic to the island of São Miguel in the Azores, where it obviously inhabited the margins of two large lakes.

The species reached a size of about 0,3 cm in length and was dark colored. [1]

Torretasso’s Ground Beetle was last seen in 1985, it was never found again since, despite several collecting efforts. [2]

*********************

References:

[1] P. A. V. Borges; A. R. M. Serrano; I. R. Amorim: New species of cave-dwelling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) from the Azores. Journal of Natural History 38: 1303-1313. 2004
[2] Paulo A. V. Borges; Pedro Oromí; Artur R. M. Serrano; Isabel R. Amorim; Fernando Pereira: Biodiversity patterns of cavernicolous ground-beetles and their conservation status in the Azores, with the description of a new species: Trechus isabelae n. sp. (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae). Zootaxa 1478: 21-31. 2007

*********************

edited: 07.09.2020

Tylos nudulus Budde-Lund

Naked Beach Pillbug (Tylos nudulus)

The Naked Beach Pillbug was described in 1906; it is known only from the beaches of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species has never been found since its description and appears to be extinct now.

*********************

References:

[1] D. J. James; P. T. Green; W. F. Humphreys; J. C. Z. Woinarski: Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Records of the Western Australian Museum 34: 55-114. 2019

*********************

edited: 16.02.2024

Cissus notabilis Doweld

Remarkable Cissus Wine (Cissus notabilis)

This species was described in 1887; it is known only from two collection that both were obtained some 125 years ago, one in West Bengal and the other one in Sikkim, India.

The species was an erect shrub that grew in damp forests, it might well be extinct.

***

syn. Cissus spectabilis (Kurz) Hochst. ex Planch.

*********************

edited: 20.08.2022

Argynnis nokomis ssp. wenona Dos Passos & Grey

Wenona Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis ssp. wenona)

The Wenona Fritillary was described in 1945 as a subspecies of the Nokomis Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis (W. H. Edwards)); it was restricted to Nuevo Leon, northeastern Mexico

The form was last recorded sometimes during the 1970s and is now considered most likely extinct. [1]

***

The photo below shows another subspecies of that species, the Bluish Nokomis Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis ssp. coerulescens W. Holland), which occurs in parts of Mexico as well as in the southern USA.

***

syn. Speyeria nokomis ssp. wenona Dos Passos & Grey

*********************

Bluish Nokomis Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis ssp. coerulescens)

Photo: Javier Cruz Nieto
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/lorospericos
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

References:

[1] Gerald Selby: Great Basin Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria nokomis nokomis [W. H. Edwards]): a technical conservation assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region 2007

*********************

edited: 13.09.2019

Cyanea copelandii ssp. copelandii Rock

Copeland’s Cyanea (Cyanea copelandii ssp. copelandii)

Copeland’s Cyanea is an epiphytic species that once inhabited the rainforests of at least two of the Hawai’i Islands, namely Hawai’i and Maui, with its own endemic subspecies on each of the islands. 

The nominate form once occurred on the southeastern slopes of Mauna Loa in Hawai’i, where it was last found in 1957. It is now considered extinct. 

The Maui Island subspecies, Cyanea copelandii ssp. haleakalaensis (H. St. John) Lammers, is itself threatened with extinction.

***

syn. Cyanea crispihirta E. Wimm., Delissea crispihirta (E. Wimm.) H. St. John


*********************

Photo from: ‘Joseph F. Rock: A monographic study of the Hawaiian species of the tribe Lobelioideae, Family Campanulaceae. Memoirs of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Polynesian Ethnology and Natural History 7: 1-394. 1918’ 

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 27.04.2012

Chloridops sp. ‘Maui’

Maui Grosbeak (Chloridops sp.)

This form is known from a complete subfossil mandible that was found in the Pu’u Naio Cave on the island of Maui, Hawaiian Islands and which differs from the Wahi Grosbeak (Chloridops wahi James & Olson) in being about 18% smaller.

More material is needed before it is clear whether this form represents some kind of extreme intraspecific variation in the Wahi Grosbeak or a distinct species. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] S. L. Olson; H. F. James: Descriptions of thirty-two new species of birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Part II. Passeriformes. Ornithological Monographs 45: 1-91. 1991

*********************

edited: 08.10.2020

Vernonia ampandrandavensis Humbert

Ampandrandava Vernonia (Vernonia ampandrandavensis)

This little tree is endemic to a region named Ampandrandava in the Toliara Province of southern Madagascar.

The species was last seen in 1944 and is considered likely extinct.

***

The photo below shows a related species, the Flat-scaled Vernonia (Vernonia platylepis Drake)

*********************

Flat-scaled Vernonia (Vernonia platylepis)

Photo: Landy Rita
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/landyrita1
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 05.01.2024

Philonesia arenofunus H. B. Baker

Koloa Philonesia Snail (Philonesia arenofunus)

Distribution:

Hawai’i Islands: Kaua’i

local names: –

***

This species is one of several that are known from subfossil or even fossil specimens alone; in this case they were recovered from sand dunes near Aweoweonui near the south-eastern coast of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.

*********************  

References:  

[1] H. Burrington Baker: Zonitid snails from Pacific islands – part 2: Hawaiian genera of Microcystinae. Bishop Museum Bulletin 165: 105-223. 1940

*********************  

edited: 15.07.2022

Elaphoglossum gracilipes (Fée ex Kuhn) C. Chr.

Gracile-footed Tonguefern (Elaphoglossum gracilipes)

This small epiphytic fern species was described in 1905 from material that had been collected in the surroundings of Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

The species was never found since and is considered most likely extinct.

***

The photo below shows an unspecified congeneric species that was photographed around the city of Quito in Ecuador.

*********************

unspecified Tonguefern species (Elaphoglossum sp.)

Photo: David Torres
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/dawicho
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 07.02.2024

Sinployea titikaveka Brook

Titikaveka Sinployea Snail (Sinployea titikaveka)

The Titikaveka Sinployea Snail was described in 2010; it is known only from subfossil shells that were recovered from deposits near the southern coast of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

The shells reach sizes of only up to 0,16 cm in diameter.

*********************

References:  

[1] Fred J. Brook: Coastal landsnail fauna of Rarotonga, Cook Islands: systematics, diversity, biogeography, faunal history, and environmental influences. Tuhinga 21: 161-252. 2010

*********************

edited: 02.08.2022

Lobogestoria sp. ‘Samoa’

Samoan Lobogestoria Beetle (Lobogestoria sp.)

This unnamed species is known so far only from subfossil remains recovered by Nick Porch from samplings from the Samoan Islands.

***

I do not know if this species is indeed extinct, but given the rather bad condition of the lowland areas of the larger Samoan Islands, it quite possibly is.

*********************

edited: 22.04.2019

Homoeodera edithia Wollaston

Edith’s Fungus Beetle (Homoeodera edithia)

Edith’s Fungus Beetle was described in 1877, the author named it in honour of his wife.: 

The only example of this most remarkable Homoeodera which I have yet seen was captured by Mrs. Wollaston (after whom I have named the species) in the rotten trunk of a dead Buddleia madagascariensis, Vahl, immediately below Actaeon and Diana’s-Peak ridge, close to a spot called Newfoundland. It is evidently one of the rarest of the St.-Helena Coleoptera; for, in spite of constant researches at the very same tree, we were quite unable to procure a second specimen.” [1]

***

The species was commonly found during field surveys in 1965/66 but could not be traced in 2005/06, it may already be extinct. [2]

*********************

References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Coleoptera Sanctae-Helenae. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row 1877 
[2] Howard Mendel; Philip Ashmole; Myrtle Ashmole: Invertebrates of the Central Peaks and Peak Dale, St. Helena. Report for the St Helena National Trust, Jamestown 2008

*********************

edited: 02.12.2018

Australdonta tubuaiana Solem

Tubuai Australdonta Snail (Australdonta tubuaiana)

The Tubuai Australdonta Snail was described in 1976; it is known only from subfossil specimens that were found in the western parts of Tubuai, Austral Islands.

The shells reach sizes of 0.42 to 0.5 cm; they are light yellowish white with broad reddish flammulations that fade out on the shell’s base.

*********************

References:

[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part I, Family Endodontidae. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1976
[2] Olivier Gargominy; Benoît Fontaine: A Global Overview of the Terrestrial and Freshwater Molluscs. In: Jean-Yves Meyer; Elin. M. Claridge: Biodiversity of the Austral Islands, French Polynesia. Muséum national d´Histoire naturelle, Paris. 55-91. 2014

*********************

edited: 18.02.2024

Dryolimnas sp. ‘Cosmoledo’

Cosmoledo is an atoll in the Aldabra group of the outer islands of the Seychelles archipelago; it has a very small area of dry land yet is home to at least four species of land birds, the Souimanga Sunbird (Cinnyris sovimanga ssp. buchenorum Williams), the Malagasy Turtle-Dove (Nesoenas picturatus ssp. coppingeri (Sharpe)), the Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus ssp. menaiensis (Benson)) and a rail that is only known from a single contemporary report.:

A rail (Dryolimnas abbotti?) still exists on South Island, and a Cinnyris perhaps forms a local race, but land birds were scarce on Cosmoledo, which as a whole seemed too broken into small islands to be suitable for a land fauna.” [1]

The three volant bird species are surviving until today but the rail is now gone.

*********************

References:

[1] J. C. F. Fryer: The structure and formation of Aldabra and neighbouring islands – with notes on their flora and fauna. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 2nd series. Zoology 14(3): 397-442. 1911

*********************

edited: 03.01.2023

Melanoplus ligneolus Scudder

Firewood Spur-throated Grasshopper (Melanoplus ligneolus)

The Firewood Spur-throated Grasshopper was described in 1899 based on specimens that had been collected near the cities of Benicia and Berkely in Solano – and Alameda County of California / USA respectively.

The males reached sizes of about 1,7 cm long, the females were slightly larger, both sexes were yellowish light-brown colored.

The species is considered possibly extinct without any reasons for this assumption being mentioned.

********************

Depiction from: ‘Samuel H. Scudder: Supplement to a revision of the Melanopli. Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences 7: 157-205. 1899’

(public domain)

********************

References:

[1] Samuel H. Scudder: Supplement to a revision of the Melanopli. Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences 7: 157-205. 1899′

********************

edited: 31.08.2019

Coilostele acus (Pfeiffer)

(Coilostele acus)

This species was described in 1854, the type material, however, was apparently lost during World War II, thus the taxonomic validity of this taxon is unclear.:

Taxonomic issues arose concerning two species when they were submitted to experts, although they had never been reported as nonvalid species in the scientific literature; because their taxonomic status is unclear (the biological species designated by their names are unknown), they were classified as impossible to assess. However, due to this taxonomic uncertainty, no data are available apart from their original 19th-century descriptions, and the model evaluates them as extinct. These taxa are Coilostele acus and Perrottetia piriformis.” [1]

***

It is quite unlikely that this taxon is indeed extinct, it is most likely synonymous with some of the other species described in that genus. [2]

*********************

References:

[1] Claire Régnier; Guillaume Achaz; Amaury Lambert; Robert H. Cowie; Philippe Bouchet; Benoît Fontaine: Mass extinction in poorly known taxa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1-6. 2015
[2] A. Martínez-Ortí; M. Prieto; F. Uribe: Addendum to the type catalogue of the malacological collection in the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Arxius de Miscel.lània Zoològica 16.2018

*********************

edited: 09.11.2021

Proterhinus sp. ‘Mo’orea’

Moorean Proterhinus Weevil (Proterhinus sp.)

This species, which has not yet been described, is known from subfossil remains (at least one pronotum) that were collected on the island of Mo’orea, Society Islands.

***

The genus Proterhinus occurs on some of the islands in the tropical Pacific, with a strinking radiation of more than 130 species inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands alone.

*********************

References:

[1] Jennifer G. Kahn, Cordelia Nickelsen, Janelle Stevenson, Nick Porch, Emilie Dotte-Sarout, Carl C. Christensen, Lauren May, J. Stephen Athens, Patrick V. Kirch: Mid- to late Holocene landscape change and anthropogenic transformations on Mo’orea, Society Islands: A multi-proxy approach. The Holocene 25(2): 1-15. 2014

*********************

edited: 31.10.2020

Monarcha nigra ssp. ‘Mo’orea’

Moorea Monarch (Monarcha nigra ssp.)

The Tahiti Monarch (Monarcha nigra (Sparrman)) is the sole surviving of formerly several monarch species that inhabited the Society Islands; as its name implies, it is endemic to Tahiti, the largest of the islands in the archipelago.

The smaller sister of Tahiti, Mo’orea, very likely once also harbored a monarch population, and this might well have been an endemic one.

*********************

edited: 07.05.2022

Parnassius apollo ssp. ancile Fruhstorfer

Fichtel Mountain (Parnassius apollo ssp. ancile)

This form was described in 1909, apparently already after its extinction; it was restricted to a small region around the city of Bad Berneck in the Franconian part of the Fichtel Mountains.

The reasons for its disappearance are very well known.:

P. apollo ancile Fruhst, von Berneck im Fichtelgebirge hat leider dasselbe tragische Schicksal wie P. apollo posthumus erreicht. An der einzigen Stelle des Fichtelgebirges, wo ancile vorkam, wurde er nach freundl. brieflichen Mitteilungen des Herrn Lehrers Poehlmann in Röhrenhof, Oberfranken, durch „brutales Wegfangen seitens der Sommerfrischler, noch mehr aber durch die Dummheit einer Gärtnersfrau, völlig ausgerottet. Letztere ließ die ancile durch Kinder einfangen, um die apollo den abreisenden Kurgästen auf das übliche Blumenbuket (noch dazu häufig lebend!) zu stecken. 1909 wurde das letzte Stück beobachtet. Ein bezirksamtliches Fangverbot kam zu spät, es gab nichts mehr zu schützen.” [1]

translation:

P. apollo ancile Fruhst, from Berneck in the Fichtel mountains unfortunately met the same tragic fate as P. apollo posthumus. In the only place in the Fichtel Mountains where ancile occurred, it was found, according to a friendly written message by the teacher Poehlmann in Hülsenhof, Upper Franconia, completely eradicated by “brutal capture by the summer visitors, but even more so by the stupidity of a gardener’s wife. The latter had the ancile captured by children in order to pin the apollo on the usual bouquet of flowers (and often alive!) for the departing spa guests. The last specimen was observed in 1909. A district official catching ban came too late; there was nothing left to protect.”

*********************

unspecified subspecies

Depiction from: ‘Jacob Hübner: Das kleine Schmetterlingsbuch: Die Tagfalter, Insel-Bücherei Nr. 213. 1934’

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] H. Fruhstorfer: Neue und seltene Parnassius-Rassen. Entomologischer Anzeiger 3(11): 131-133. 1923

*********************

edited: 10.01.2024

Anoma adamsi Pilsbry

Adams’ Anoma Snail (Anoma adamsi)

Adams’ Anoma Snail was described in 1903, the species is, or maybe was, restricted to a small area near Ulster Spring, a settlement in the Trelawny Parish in the northwest of Jamaica.

Surface is glossy, very finely striate throughout; the last third of the last whorl becoming more coarsely rib-striate. Bluish-milky, touched with light brown at the summit; the base, back of the lip and adjecent surface, brownish-fleshy. The keel, a subsutural line on the last whorl, and a wide arcuate stripe (behind the fleshy lip-stripe) are opaque-white; and behind the white stripe there is a second fleshy-brown oblique area, fading on its right side into the blue-white ground-color. These colors show within the mouth. The well-expanded lip is flesh-pink and but slightly thickened, somewhat sinuous, and a little retracted at both ends. Columnella distinctly truncate in oblique view. Length 19.3, diam. 5, length of aperture 4,6 mm., whorls 10.” [1]

The species was not found during recent surveys and might be extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata. Vol 16: Urocoptidae, Achatinidae. 1904
[2] Gary Rosenberg; Igor Muratov: Status Report on the Terrestrial Mollusca of Jamaica. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 155: 117-161. 2006

*********************

edited: 22.09.2020

Hemignathus lanaiensis Rothschild

Maui-nui Akialoa (Hemignathus lanaiensis)

The Maui-nui Akialoa aka. Lanai Akialoa was historically only known from the island of Lana’i, Hawaiian Islands, but did formerly also occur on the neighboring islands of Maui and Moloka’i as its known based on subfossils (found at least on Maui). [2]

The species is known by exactly three specimens, two of which appear to be sub-adult males and the third one a female. [3]

***

There is an interesting account made in 1903 (?) by Robert Cyril Layton Perkins, a British entomologist, naturalist and ornithologist about this species in life.:

Almost equally unfortunate was my experience of H. lanaiensis, of which I saw but a single example. This was evidently an adult male, its plumage appearing quite brightly yellow, and unlike any of the figures in Mr Rothschild’s work. There is no doubt hat his figure of the adult bird, if really taken from an adult, represents the bird in its non-breeding stage, for in January, when I saw the one above mentioned, all the adult birds on Lanai were in the fullest and most perfect plumage. It was extremely tame, at times not five yards distant, hunting for insects along the trunk and large limbs of a partly fallen Ohia, which overhung the edge of a precipitous cliff. As, if killed, it would necessarily have fallen in the brush far below, or have lodged in the shrubbery on the side of the cliff, being without a dog I forbore to shoot, and when after some minutes it flew off, it was seen no more. It is probable that this was realy a survivor of the brood obtained by Mr Rothschild’s collectors, since Wolstenholme, who discovered the bird, informed me that all of their specimens were obtained in the same spot and practically at the same time. Certainly the bird seen by me was quite alone, and this at a time when mature birds were all paired, and it may even be feared that it was the sole living representative of its species.” [1]

The Maui-nui Akialoa was extinct shortly after.

*********************

Depiction from: ‘W. Rothschild: The Avifauna of Laysan and the neighbouring islands with a complete history to date of the birds of the Hawaiian possession. 1893-1900’

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] R. C. L. Perkins: Vertebrata. in: Fauna Hawaiiensis 1(4): 365-466. 1899-1913
[2] S. L. Olson; H. F. James: Descriptions of thirty-two new species of birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Part II. Passeriformes. Ornithological Monographs 45: 1-91. 1991
[3] H. D. Pratt: The Hawaiian Honeycreepers: Drepanidinae. Oxford Univ. Pr. 2005

*********************

edited: 09.10.2020

Philodoria pipturicola Swezey

Mamaki-mining Philodoria Moth (Philodoria pipturicola)

The Mamaki-mining Philodoria Moth was described in 1915; it is known only from the region around Punalu’u near the northeast shore of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands.

The species has a wingspan of about 0,6 to 0,7 cm; the head is grayish fuscous, the thorax is slate gray fuscous colored, the abdomen is dark fuscous; the forewings are fuscous suffused with orange patches and some white bands, the hindwings are dark fuscous.

This is one of the species that was reared from mines, thus its host plant is established as the endemic māmaki (Pipturus sp.); the mine is a serpentine at the beginning and later becomes a blotch, the larva emerges from the mine to spin a light brown cocoon on some matching surface.

***

The species was also recorded from Maui, these records however, were misidentifications with another species, the Haelaau Philodoria Moth (Philodoria haelaauensis Kobayashi, Johns & Kawahara). [2]

*********************

[1] Elwood C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 9; Microlepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1978
[2] Shigeki Kobayashi; Chris A. Johns; Akito Y. Kawahara: Revision of the Hawaiian endemic leaf-mining moth genus Philodoria Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): its conservation status, host plants and descriptions of thirteen new species. Zootaxa 4944(1): 1-715. 2021

*********************

edited: 18.03.2021

Cynisca gansi Dunger

Okoloma Worm Lizard (Cynisca gansi)

The Okoloma Worm Lizard was described in 1968; it is only known from a single locality near the city of Okoloma in Nigeria.

The species inhabited the topsoil as well as the leaf litter in the native forests, which are now mostly converted into agricultural areas or are urbanized; the species might well be extinct.

***

The photo below shows a more widespread congenerix taxon, the Coast Worm Lizard (Cynisca leucura (Duméril & Bibron)), photographed in Nigeria.

*********************

Coast Worm Lizard (Cynisca leucura)

Photo: Babajide Agboola
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/agboola
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 18.02.2024

Vatica pentandra P. S. Ashton

(Vatica pentandra)

This species is only known from the type collection that was taken in 1955 at the Belayan River in the East Kalimantan Province of Borneo, Indonesia.

This area is now largely overrun by oil palm plantations, the species wasn’t found in recent surveys and might well be extinct.
*********************

edited: 05.01.2024

Melanopsis germaini Pallary

Germain’s Melanopsis Spring Snail (Melanopsis germaini)

Germain’s Melanopsis Spring Snail was described in 1939; the species is known only from its type localities: the small rivers Nahr as Sinnah and Nahr az Zayrūd between the cities of Baniyas and Jableh on the Syrian coast to the Mediterranean Sea. [1]

Only the lower parts of these rivers still contain water, which is heavily polluted, thus the snail’s habitat appears to be lost now.

Germain’s Melanopsis Spring Snail was last recorded in 1955, it is now probably extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] Joseph Heller; Peter Mordan; Frida Ben-Ami; Naomi Sivan: Conchometrics, systematics and distribution of Melanopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Levant. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 144: 229-260. 2005

*********************

edited: 17.11.2021

Cryptocarya arfakensis Kaneh. & Hatus.

Arfak Cryptocarya (Cryptocarya arfakensis)

The Arfak Cryptocarya is a small tree that is known only from the type material that was collected in 1940 in the Arfak Mountains in the West Papua Province of the Indonesian part of New Guinea.

The species has never been recorded since; given the constant threat of deforestation and habitat destruction, it is possible that it is already extinct.

*********************

edited: 28.04.2022

Anas marecula Olson & Jouventin

Amsterdam Island Duck (Anas marecula)

The Amsterdam Island Duck, aka. Amsterdam Wigeon was described in 1996 based on subfossil bones that were found on the Île Amsterdam in the subantarctic part of the Indian Ocean.

This duck species was rather small and apparently completely flightless.

There is also a contemporaneous account that mentions this duck species and that is often falsely assigned to a population of ducks on another island, the Île Saint-Paul, which lies about 80 km away from Île Amsterdam. :

Anas, A small brown Duck, not much larger than a thrush, and apparently not described by naturalists.” [1]

If this account is read carefully, however, it is very clear that it is speaking about the ducks found on Amsterdam Island.

*********************

References:

[1] John Barrow: A voyage to Cochinchina, in the years 1792 and 1793. To which is annexed an account of a journey made in the years 1801 and 1802, to the residence of the chief of the Booshuana nation. London: printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies 1806
[2] Storrs L. Olson; Pierre Jouventin: A new species of small flightless duck from Amsterdam Island, southern Indian Ocean (Anatidae: Anas). The Condor 98(1): 1-9. 1996

*********************

edited: 10.11.2021

Trechus satanicus Barr

Satanic Ground Beetle (Trechus satanicus)

The Satanic Ground Beetle was described in 1962, it was apparently restricted to a place named Graveyard Fields in Haywood County, North Carolina, USA.

The beetle reached a size of about 0,36 cm in length.

The species is considered likely extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] Thomas C. Barr Jr.: Revision of Appalachian Trechus (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Brimleyana 2: 29-75. 1979

*********************

edited: 07.09.2020

Wollastonia inexpectata De Mattia & Groh

Unexpected Wollastonia Snail (Wollastonia inexpectata)

This species was described in 2018 during a genus-group revision; it is known only from subfossil material which was collected from near the northern shore of Porto Santa.

The species apparently was already extinct when before the island was scientifically explored. [1]

*********************

Photo from: ‘Willy De Mattia; Marco T. Neiber; Klaus Groh: Revision of the genus-group Hystricella R. T. Lowe, 1855 from Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago), with descriptions of new recent and fossil taxa (Gastropoda, Helicoidea, Geometridae). ZooKeys 732: 1-125. 2018’

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

*********************

References:

[1] Willy De Mattia; Marco T. Neiber; Klaus Groh: Revision of the genus-group Hystricella R. T. Lowe, 1855 from Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago), with descriptions of new recent and fossil taxa (Gastropoda, Helicoidea, Geometridae). ZooKeys 732: 1-125. 2018

*********************

edited: 01.08.2022

Stipa tulcanensis Mez 

Tulcan Feather Grass (Stipa tulcanensis)

The Tulcan Feather Grass is only known from type material collected in the late 1870s somewhere in the Carchi Province, in the Andes of Ecuador. 

***

The species’ scientific name is considered ‘unplaced’, meaning further research is needed to clarify the exact status of the plant. 

*********************

edited: 30.01.2012

Rhinolophus mitratus Blyth

Mitred Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mitratus)

The Mitred Horseshoe Bat is a very enigmatic species only known from the type that was collected in 1844 somewhere in Jharkhand, India.

The species might indeed be still around and may be rediscovered some day, but until that happens it should be mentioned in here.

*********************

edited: 19.09.2020

Tenebroides rimatara Kolibáč & Porch

Rimatara Bark-gnawing Beetle (Tenebroides rimatara)

This species was described in 2020 on the basis of subfossil remains, ncluding an articulated head and prothorax as well as at least three elytra, that were recovered from sediment cores that had been obtained on the island of Rimatara in the Austral Islands.

The remains can be dates to an age of about 4500 to 3500 BP.. 

the Rimatara Bark-gnawing Beetle reached a size of about 0,48 cm in length, it appears to have been dark brown in color. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Jiří Kolibáč; Milada Bocakova; James K. Liebherr; Thibould Ramage; Nick Porch: Extinct and extant Pacific Trogossitidae and the evolution of Cleroidea (Coleoptera) after the Late Triassic biotic crisis. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 20: 1-37. 2020

*********************

edited: 02.11.2020

Cinclocerthia sp. ‘Barbados’

Barbados Trempler (Cinclocerthia sp.)

The next is a bird like a Thrush, of a melancholly look, her feathers never smooth, but alwayes ruffled, as if she were mewing, her head down, her shoulders up, as if her neck were broke. This bird has for three or four notes, the loudest and sweetest, that ever I heard; if she had variety, certainly no bird could go beyond her; she looks alwayes, as if she were sick or melancholly.” [1]

This account by the British author Richard Ligon from 1657 can be assigned with the utmost security to a so-called trempler (Cinclocerthia sp.), maybe a subspecies of the Grey Trempler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis(Lafresnaye)) or of the Brown Trempler (Cinclocerthia ruficauda (Gould)) both of which occur on the neighboring islands; or, given the somewhat isolated location of Barbados, may even have been an endemic species.

Whatever he case, since the island of Barbados has lost nearly all of its natural vegetation, this bird is now extinct. [2]

***

The photo below shows a Northern Brown Trempler (Cinclocerthia ruficauda ssp. tremula (Lafresnaye)) from the island of Guadeloupe.

*********************

Northern Brown Trempler (Cinclocerthia ruficauda ssp. tremula)

Photo: Martingloor
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

*********************

References:

[1] Richard Ligon: A True & Exact History Of the Island of Barbadoes: Illustrated with a map of the Island, as also the Principal Trees and Plants there, set forth in their due Proportions and Shapes, drawn out by their several and respective Scales. Together with the Ingenio that makes the Sugar, with the Plots of the several Houses, Rooms, and other places, that are used in the whole process of Sugar-making; viz. teh Grinding-room, the Boyling-room, the Filling-room, the curing-house, and Furnaces; All cut in Copper. London: printed and are to be sold by Peter Parker, at his Shop at the Leg and Star over against the Royal Exchange, and Thomas Guy at the corner Shop of Little Lumbard-street and Cornhill 1673
[2] P. A. Buckley; Edward B. Massiah; Maurice B. Hutt; Francine G. Buckley; Hazel F. Hutt: The birds of Barbados: An annotated checklist. British Ornithologists’ Union 2009

*********************

edited: 20.09.2019

Antilissus sp. ‘Mo’orea’

Moorea Bark Beetle (Antilissus sp.)

This taxon, which has not yet been formally described, is known from subfossil remains (at least one pronotum) found on the island of Mo’orea, Society Islands. [1]


The genus is today known only from the Hawaiian Islands and does only contain a single surviving species. 

*********************

References:

[1] Jennifer G. Kahn, Cordelia Nickelsen, Janelle Stevenson, Nick Porch, Emilie Dotte-Sarout, Carl C. Christensen, Lauren May, J. Stephen Athens, Patrick V. Kirch: Mid- to late Holocene landscape change and anthropogenic transformations on Mo‘orea, Society Islands: A multi-proxy approach. The Holocene 1-15. 2014

*********************

edited: 24.10.2020

Helenoconcha minutissima (Smith)

Dwarf Saint Helena Snail (Helenoconcha minutissima)

The Dwarf Saint Helena Snail was described in 1892 on the basis of subfossil shells that were found at Sugarloaf Ridge on the island of Saint Helena.

The following text is a sentence from the species’ description.:

This species is smaller than P. polyodon, more narrowly umbilicated, has fewer whorls, coarser and more remote striae, and a different armature within the aperture. In full-grown shells there are as many as six parietal lirae, as it were, in two groups of three. They are very fine and extend a long way within. The plicae within the outer lip var apparently from seven to eight to ten or eleven, and some of them are more prominent than others. The red markings take the form of radiating blotches on the upper surface, and more undulating or zigzag streaks beneath.” [2]

***

syn. Patula minutissima Smith

*********************

Depiction from: ‘G. W. Tryon; H. A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 8, Helicidae Vol. 6. 1892’

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] Edgar A. Smith: On the land-shells of St. Helena. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1892: 258-270

*********************

edited: 29.05.2021

Arenaria nana Willd. ex Schltdl.

Small Sandwort (Arenaria nana)

The Small Sandwort is known exclusively from the type material collected apparently in 1816 (?) by A. J. A. Bonpland and A. v. Humboldt, it was never collected since and is considered extinct.

***

The photo below shows another congeneric that is also occurring in Ecuador, the Cushion Sandwort (Arenaria dicranoides Kunth)

*********************

Cushion Sandwort (Arenaria dicranoides)

Photo: Zane Libke
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/zanelibke
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 14.04.2019

Lepiota boninensis S. Ito & S. Imai

Bonin Islands Lepiota Mushroom (Lepiota boninensis)  

This species is known only from a single locality on the island of Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan.

The species is considered extinct. [1]

*********************  

References:  

[1] Kentaro Hosaka; Takahito Kobayashi; Michael A. Castellano; Takamichi Orihara: The status of voucher specimens of mushroom species thought to be extinct from Japan. Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science Ser. B 44(2): 53-66. 2018

*********************  

edited: 31.08.2020

Glyphyalinia floridana (Morrison)

Ocala Glossy Snail (Glyphyalinia floridana)

The Ocala Glossy Snail, described in 1937, is only known from subfossil shells that had been found in crevices of limestone rock near the town of Ocala in Marion County, Florida.

The many specimens in the original lot … are all dead shells, weathered to a chalky appearance. It appears unlikely that this species is Pleistocene as doubtfully noted by the collector. It may, however, be extinct at the present time.” [1]

The shells reach sizes of about 0.45 cm in diameter; they were described as follows: 

Shell of five whorls, possessing the characteristic sculpture of the subgenus, with regularly and closely spaced major growth wrinkles, of about the size of R. roemeri, but with the base of the body whorl more deeply rounded near the umbilicus, which has consequently steeper walls. The spire is regularly depressed-conic, but constantly higher, as is the body whorl, than in the specimens of roemeri seen. The aperture is roundly lunate, widest below the middle; peristome more sharply rounded at the periphery and in the columellar region. Umbilicus deep, steep-walled; contained about four times in the major diameter of the shell.” [1]

***

syn. Retinella floridana Morrison

*********************

Photo from: ‘J. P. E. Morrison: Five new North American Zonitids. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 50: 55-60. 1937’

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

*********************

References:

[1] J. P. E. Morrison: Five new North American Zonitids. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 50: 55-60. 1937

*********************

edited: 11.02.2024

Pritchardia sp. ‘Tubuai’

Tubuai Fan Palm (Pritchardia sp.)

This unnamed species was identified from subfossil fruits excavated in the Mihiura Swamp on the island of Tubuai, Austral Islands, at a depth of just over 3 m. 

These fruits predate the settlement of the island and can be dated back to around 1100 CE. date. [1]


*********************


References:

[1] M. Prebble; J. L. Dowe: The late Quaternary decline and extinction of palms on oceanic Pacific islands. Science Reviews 27: 2546-2567. 2008

*********************

edited: 18.07.2012

Podophorus bromoides Phil.

Brome-like Podophorus Grass (Podophorus bromoides)

The Brome-like Podophorus Grass was described in 1856; it obviously was restricted to the Isla Robinson Crusoe in the Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile; even at that time only a single plant was found.:

Of this curious grass we have seen only one specimen, sent to Kew by Philippi himself in 1861.” [1]

The species was never found again since, as already the Swedish botanist Carl Skottsberg states in 1921.:

Discovered by Germain in the latter half of October, 1854. Philippi states … that it is >>frequens in insula Juan Fernandez>>, but it has never been found a second time. All the material consists of the two sheets in Santiago and a third one in Kew. I need not tell that we made a careful search after this most interesting grass, but unfortunately without result. I must believe that this is a very rare plant.” [2]

The species is now considered extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] C. Wyville Thamson; John Murray: Report on the scientific results of the Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873-76. Narrative – Vol. I. first part. 1. 1885
[2] Carl Skottsberg: The Natural History of Juan Fernandez and Easter Island. Uppsala, Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri 1920-1956

*********************

Depiction from: ‘C. Wyville Thamson; John Murray: Report on the scientific results of the Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873-76. Narrative – Vol. I. first part. 1. 1885′

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 16.05.2022

Blackburnia sharpi (Blackburn)

Sharp’s Blackburnia Ground Beetle (Blackburnia sharpi)

Sharp’s Blackburnia Ground Beetle was described in 1878, it was endemic to the island of Maui, Hawaiian Islands.

The species was apparently restricted to the endemic koa forests that in former times covered large areas but are now almost completely lost due to logging as well as compacting of the soil due to trampling by invasive cattle. [1]

Sharp’s Blackburnia Ground Beetle was not found during recent surveys and is most likely already extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] James K. Liebherr: The mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Haleakala-, Maui: Keystone of a hyperdiverse Hawaiian radiation. Zookeys 544: 1-407. 2015

*********************

edited: 02.09.2019

Trechus mitchellensis Barr

Mitchell’s Ground Beetle (Trechus mitchellensis)

Mitchell’s Ground Beetle was described in 1962, this species is known from at least three localities in the Black Mountains in Yancey County in North Carolina, USA.

The species reached a size of 0,36 to 0,42 cm in length. [1]

The species is considered likely extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] Thomas C. Barr Jr.: Revision of Appalachian Trechus (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Brimleyana 2: 29-75. 1979

*********************

edited: 07.09.2020

Tetratheca fasciculata Joy Thomps.

Cronin’s Tetratheca (Tetratheca fasciculata)  

Cronin’s Tetratheca was a small shrub about 20 cm tall with hairy shoots and pink flowers from the area around the town of Wagin in Western Australia. 

The species was last seen in 1895 and is now considered extinct.

***

The photo below shows a congeneric species, the Crowd-leaved Tetratheca (Tetratheca confertifolia Steetz), which is probably more widespread throughout Western Australia.

*********************

Crowd-leaved Tetratheca (Tetratheca confertifolia)

Photo: Melissa Doherty
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/melissadoherty
(public domain)

*********************

edited: 15.08.2011

Biantes parvulus (Hirst)

Small Seychelles Harvestman (Biantes parvulus)

The Small Seychelles Harvestman was described in 1911; it is known to have inhabited the islands of Mahé, Praslin and Silhoutette in the Seychelles archipelago.

The species has a body length of about 0.6 cm (including the palpi); it is dark brown; the distal ends of the tibiae of the second- and fourth legs are white; the distal tarsal segment of the third and the distal end of the metatarsus and the tarsal segments of the fourth are also pale-colored; the remaining segments of the legs being dark brown in color. [1]

The Small Seychelles Harvestman was only ever found once on Praslin in 1908 and was last recorded from Mahé and Silhouette in 1972; it has never been found since and is likely extinct now.

***

syn. Hinzuanius parvulus Hirst

*********************

palp from the inner side

Depiction from: ‘ S. Hirst: The Araneae, Opiliones and Pseudoscorpiones. The Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905, under the leadership of Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, M.A. Vol 3. No. XVIII. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Second Series. Vol. 14. Zoology.: 379-395. 1910-1912’

(not in copyright)

*********************

References:

[1] S. Hirst: The Araneae, Opiliones and Pseudoscorpiones. The Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905, under the leadership of Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, M.A. Vol 3. No. XVIII. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Second Series. Vol. 14. Zoology.: 379-395. 1910-1912

*********************

edited: 28.02.2024

Dyris amazonicus (Haas)

(Dyris amazonicus)

This species was described in 1949; it is known from only five specimens that were collected in the lower part of the Tapajos River near Belterra in the state of Pará, Brazil.

The species is only known from empty shells, life individuals were never found; it was furthermore never found since its description and appears to be extinct now.

*********************  

References:  

[1] F. P. Wesselingh: On relict hydrobiid species in Brazilian Amazonia (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia, Hydrobiidae). Basteria 64: 129-136. 2000

*********************

edited: 29.01.2024

Blumea angustifolia Thwaites

Tight-leaved Blumea (Blumea angustifolia)

This species was described in 1859; it was restricted to a small area at the Mahaweli River on the island of Sri Lanka where it was found growing at damp places among rocks.

The Tight-leaved Blumea was a small perennial herb, only up to 25 cm tall, very gradually tapering at the base into a long petiole with small terminal cymes with only few, nodding yellow flowers. [1]

*********************

Depiction from: ‘Henry Trimen: A Hand-Book to the Flora of Ceylon: containing descriptions of all the species of flowering plants indigenous to the island, and notes on their history, distribution, and uses: with an atlas of plates illustrating some of the more interesting species. London: Dulau & Co. 1893-1931’

(public domain)

*********************

References:

[1] Henry Trimen: A Hand-Book to the Flora of Ceylon: containing descriptions of all the species of flowering plants indigenous to the island, and notes on their history, distribution, and uses: with an atlas of plates illustrating some of the more interesting species. London: Dulau & Co. 1893-1931

*********************

edited: 28.02.2024

Eudyptes sp. ‘Cook Strait’

Cook Strait Penguin (Eudyptes sp.)

The Cook Strait Penguin was only recently discovered during a large-scaled study of subfossil penguin bones collected from many parts of New Zealand and kept in several museums.

The species formerly inhabited the coasts of southern North –  and northern South Island and was extirpated by hunting Maori settlers, probably soon after New Zealand was settled by them. [1]

The species has not been described yet, but very likely will soon be.

*********************

References:

[1] T. L. Cole; N. J. Rawlence; N. Dussex; U. Ellenberg; D. M. Houston; T. Mattern; C. M. Miskelly; K. W. Morrison; R. Paul Scofield; A, J, D. Tennyson; D. R. Thompson; J. R. Wood; J. M. Waters: Ancient DNA of crested penguins: Testing for temporal genetic shifts in the world’s most diverse penguin clade. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 1-30. 2018

*********************

edited: 15.01.2019

Helenomelas basilewskyi Ardoin

Basilewsky’s Darkling Beetle (Helenomelas basilewskyi)

This species is/was endmic to the island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean, where it was apparently restricted to the Prosperous Bay Plain at the eastern coast of the island.

The quite large species reaches a length of about 1,5 cm and is shiny black colored, it superficially resembles scarabeid beetles (Scarabeidae).

Basilewsky’s Darkling Beetle was not found during recent searches in 2003 and is feared to be extinct. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Philip Ashmole; Myrtle Ashmole: Guide to Invertebrates of Prosperous Bay Plain, St Helena and illustrated account of species found on the Eastern Arid Area (EAA), including Prosperous Bay Plain, Holdfast Tom and Horse Point Plain. Report for St Helena Government 2004

*********************

edited: 02.12.2018

Piper poscitum Trel. & Yunck.

Demanded Pepper Tree (Piper poscitum)

This species was described in 1950, it is apparently known only from a single collection that was made in 1934 in the lowland forest near the city of Quevedo in the province Los Ríos in Ecuador.

The species was not recorded since and is very likely extinct.

*********************


edited: 27.11.2018

Bitoma sp. ‘Tubuai’

Tubuaian Bark Beetle (Bitoma sp.)

 

This form has up to now not been described, it is known only from subfossil remains, including at least one pronotum and one elytron.

The pronotum was dark reddish brown colored while the elytra had a very light, almost whitish ground color and were decorated with about seven, square-shaped, dark brown spots that formed a bark-like pattern.

*********************

edited: 02.11.2020

Alsophila walkerae var. tripinnata (Hook. & Baker) Panigrahi

Tri-pinnated Tree Fern (Alsophila walkerae var. tripinnata)

While Walker’s Tree Fern (Alsophila walkerae (Hook.) J. Sm.) is the most common and widespread tree fern species in Sri Lanka, this variety, described in 1865, is only known from its type material.

The taxon is currently treated as being nothing more than part of the range of variation of the species; I will nevertheless mention it here for the sake of completeness. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] R. H. G. Ranil; D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara; T. Janssen; C. R. Fraser-Jenkins; D. S. A. Wijesundara: Conservation Priorities for Tree Ferns (Cyatheaceae) in Sri Lanka. Taiwania 56(3): 201-209. 2011

*********************

edited: 16.02.2024

Wollastonia falknerorum Groh, Neiber & De Mattia

Falkner’s Wollastonia Snail (Wollastonia falknerorum)

 

This species was described in 2018; it is known only from subfossil shells that were found in deposits near the south-eastern shores of Porto Santo, Madeira.

The species disappeared before the scientific exploration of the island. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Willy De Mattia; Marco T. Neiber; Klaus Groh: Revision of the genus-group Hystricella R. T. Lowe, 1855 from Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago), with descriptions of new recent and fossil taxa (Gastropoda, Helicoidea, Geometridae). ZooKeys 732: 1-125. 2018

*********************

Photo from: ‘Willy De Mattia; Marco T. Neiber; Klaus Groh: Revision of the genus-group Hystricella R. T. Lowe, 1855 from Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago), with descriptions of new recent and fossil taxa (Gastropoda, Helicoidea, Geometridae). ZooKeys 732: 1-125. 2018’

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

*********************

edited: 01.08.2022

Disperis egregia Summerh.

Arc Mountains Disperis Orchid (Disperis egregia)

The Arc Mountains Disperis Orchid was described in 1952, it is, or maybe was, an endemic species of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a mountain range that stretches from Kenya to Tanzania.

The very small species grew terrestrial on mossy rock-faces in dense rainforests at elevations of 900 to about 1050 m. The flowers were pink and appeared on two- to three-flowered inflorescences.

The name of this species appears in listings of extinct and possibly extinct species and is thus mentioned here as well.

*********************

edited: 12.11.2020

Cyprinodon latifasciatus Garman

Parras Pupfish (Cyprinodon latifasciatus)

The Parras Pupfish was described in 1881, it was restricted to a spring or rather a series of springs in the valley that connects with Laguna de Mayrán near the city of San Pedro in Coahuila, Mexico.

Though some of these springs still exist, they do not harbour their former inhabitants any longer, but instead are filled with intentionally introduced Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard)), Guppys (Poecilia reticulata Peters), and Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri Heckel).

The Parras Pupfish was last seen in the 1930s and is now extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] M. L. Lozano-Vilano; M. De La Maza-Beningnos: Diversity and status of Mexican killifishes. Journal of Fish Biology 90(1): 1-36. 2016

*********************

edited: 27.05.2019

Turdus lherminieri ssp. ‘Barbuda’

Barbuda Forest Thrush (Turdus lherminieri ssp.)

The Forest Thrush (Turdus lherminieri Lafresnaye) is a beautiful and quite large thrush that prefers humid forests, it is now restricted to four islands in the Lesser Antilles: Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, and Saint Lucia, with each island harboring its own distinct endemic subspecies. 

The species was formerly more widespread and did also occur on Antigua and Barbuda, where it is known from subfossil remains found so far at least on the island of Barbuda. This form certainly constituted another island-endemic subspecies. [1]

The Barbuda Forest Thrush very likely survived well into the Holocene era but disappeared due to the clearing of the forests on its home island.

*********************

References:

[1] Gregory K. Pregill; David W. Steadman; David R. Watters: Late Quaternary vertebrate faunas of the Lesser Antilles: historical components of Caribbean biogeography. Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History 30: 1-51. 1994

*********************

edited: 17.02.2020

Rallus sp. ‘Fernando de Noronha’

Fernando de Noronha Rail (Rallus sp.)

The Fernando de Noronha Rail is an enigmatic bird known from subfossil remains that had been found in the late 1970s on the island of Fernando de Noronha, 354 km offshore the coast of Brazil.:

Remains of a new species of rail (Rallidae) were also found, bringing the total known land-bird fauna to four species. Most of the elements of the skeleton, from several different individuals, are represented. This was a medium- size rail with the wings reduced, but to a lesser extent than in many flightless species. It does not appear to be particularly close morphologically to any of the species of rails from mainland Brazil. I have briefly alluded to this form elsewhere …, but it has yet to be formally described.

The form may have been a member of the genus Laterallus or Rallus, however, the species has still not been described. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] S. L. Olson: Natural history of vertebrates on the Brazilian islands of the mid South Atlantic. National Geographic Society Research Reports 13: 481-492. 1981

*********************

edited: 03.05.2022

Dendroscansor decurvirostris Millener & Worthy

Long-billed New Zealand Wren (Dendroscansor decurvirostris)

The family Acanthisittidae, endemic to New Zealand, contains of six (or seven) species, the last remnants of a once more diverse group of birds whose final refuge is the isolated islands of New Zealand.

Four (or five) of these species are now extinct.

***
The Long-billed New Zealand Wren is only known from a few subfossil bones found at four sites on New Zealand’s South Island.

The bird was a rather large member of its family and probably flightless, or at least nearly so. It used its beak to search for small invertebrates in the leaf litter or to examine the bark of rotten branches for wood-boring larvae.

An unsuspecting ground-dweller that has never before encountered predatory mammals, the New Zealand Long-billed new Zealand Wren was probably one of the first victims of the raids of the Polynesian Rat (Rattus exulans (Peale)), which was introduced to New Zealand by the Maori in the 13th century .

********************

Depiction: Alexander Lang

*********************

References:

[1] Trevor H. Worthy, Richard N. Holdaway: The Lost World of the Moa, Prehistoric Life of New Zealand. Indiana University Press, Bloomington 2002

********************

edited: 11.02.2024

Batocnema coquereli ssp. aldabrensis Aurivillius

Aldabra Sphinx Moth (Batocnema coquereli ssp. aldabrensis)

Coquerel’s Sphinx Moth is divided into five subspecies of which two are confined to Madagascar while the other three occur on the island groups to the north of Madagascar.

The Aldabra atoll was inhabited by an endemic form, the Aldabra Sphinx Moth, which was described in 1909 and which is said to have been quite similar to the nominate form (see photo).

This form is now considered extinct, the reasons appear not to be known.

*********************

nominate race

Photo: alcedo77
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/alcedo77
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

References:

[1] Pat Matyot: The hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of Seychelles: identification, historical background, distribution, food plants and ecological considerations. Phelsuma 13. 55-80. 2005
[2] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phelsuma 20: 9-22. 2012

*********************

edited: 04.01.2023

Erythrura sp. ‘Rota’

Mariana Parrot Finch (Erythrura sp.)

The Mariana Parrot Finch is known only from a subfossil humerus that was recovered from deposits on the island of Rota in the Mariana Islands; this single bone can be referred to that genus based on several characters but is larger than that of any congeneric species.

The species may have reached a length of about 15 cm, making it one of the largest members of its whole family; it was very likely most closely related to the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa (Kittlitz)) (see depiction), a species that still occurs in parts of Micronesia today. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinct and extirpated birds from Rota, Mariana Islands. Micronesia 25(1): 71-84. 1992

*********************

Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa)

Depiction from: ‘F. H. von Kittlitz: Über einige noch unbeschriebene Vögel von der Insel Luzon, den Carolinen und den Marianen. Mémoires présentés à l’Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Petersbourg par divers Savants et lus dans ses Assemblées 2: 1-10. 1835’

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 09.11.2021

Pseudolibera aubertdelaruei Sartori, Gargominy & Fontaine

Aubert de la Rüe’ Pseudolibera Snail (Pseudolibera aubertdelaruei)

Aubert de la Rüe’ Pseudolibera Snail was described in 2014, it is known from only three specimens which were collected in 1955 by E. Aubert de la Rüe on the island of makatea in the Tuamotu Archipelago.

The shells reach sizes of less than 0,6 cm in diameter, they are white, depressed and decorated with flammulations, the apex is flat, the spire elevated, the peripheral keel is very short. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] A. F. Sartori; O. Gargominy; B. Fontaine: Radiation and decline of endodontid land snails in Makatea, French Polynesia. Zootaxa 3772(1): 1–68. 2014

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edited: 13.06.2020

Staphylinidae gen. & sp. ‘Austral Islands’

Austral islands Rove Beetle(s) (Staphylinidae gen. & sp.)

The rove beetles (Staphylinidae) contain about 63000 species, making it one of the largest families in the animal kingdom, several new species are being described every year.

So, it is no wonder that this family also contains countless extinct forms – at least 18 are known from subfossil remains found on the Austral Islands so far.

*********************

edited: 31.10.2020

Cyrtodactylus celatus Kathriner, Bauer, O’shea, Sanchez, & Kaiser

Hidden Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus celatus)

The Hidden Bent-toed Gecko was described in 2014 on the basis of a single female specimen that was found in 1924 in the village of Tjamplong in West Timor, Indonesia. 

The species reached a size of about 7.6 cm (including the tail); it can be distinguished from congeneric species from the same general geographical region by its smaller size and by a variety of pholidotic characteristics.

When the species was described, its type locality was described as a woodland with numerous small streams; unfortunately, the same region today is a barren habitat in which the native forest appears to have been removed and replaced by rice paddies and human habitations. [1]

Hidden Bent-toed Gecko is now most likely extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] Andrew Kathriner; Aaron M. Bauer; Mark O’Shea; Caitlin Sanchez; Hinrich Kaiser: Hiding in plain sight: a new species of bent-toed gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from West Timor, collected by Malcolm Smith in 1924. Zootaxa 3900(4): 555-568. 2014

*********************

edited: 15.02.2024

Acanthomerus asperatus Wollaston

Rough Saint Helena Weevil (Acanthomerus asperatus)

The Rough Saint Helena Weevil was described in 1877, as its name implies, it is, or maybe was, endemic to the island of Saint Helena in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The species seems to have been adapted to the likewise endemic Scrubwood (Commidendrum rugosum (Dryand) DC.), and was apparently already very rare when it was discovered.:

I have seen hitherto but a single example of this curious and well-marked Acanthomerus, – which was taken by Mr. P. Whitehead, amongst the viscous shrubs of the scrubwood (or Aster glutinosus, Hk. f.) [Commidendrum rugosum], on the Barn. It must be regarded therefore as a scrubwood species; and I may add that there are few members of the scrubwood fauna (as yet brought to light) which are more interesting than the A. asperatus.

***

The Rough Saint Helena Weevil was not found during the most recent field surveys and might well be extinct.

***

The depiction below shows the closely related Boring Saint Helena Weevil (Acanthomerus terebrans Wollaston).

*********************

References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Coleoptera Sanctae-Helenae. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row 1877

*********************

Boring Saint Helena Weevil (Acanthomerus terebrans)

Depiction from: ‘T. Vernon Wollaston: Coleoptera Sanctae-Helenae. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row 1877’

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 26.05.2021

Protosticta gracilis Kirby

Gracile White-legged Damselfly (Protosticta gracilis)

The Gracile White-legged Damselfly was described in 1889 on the basis of type material that had been collected in 1859 from an unspecified locality on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The species was never found anywhere on the island and may now well be extinct for a long time.

*********************

edited: 24.08.2022

Curculionidae gen. & sp. ‘Rapa Nui’

Smaller Rapa Nui Cossonine Weevil (Curculionidae gen. & sp.)

The Smaller Rapa Nui Cossonine Weevil is one of two new weevil species that were recorded from core samples that were collected from the lake in the Rano Kau volcano on Rapa Nui.

The species is known from four heads, six prothoraces, 13 elytra and two first two-fused ventrites, it reached an estimated size of about 0,25 to 0,29 cm. [1]

The species is now extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] M. Horrocks; M. Marra; W. T. Baisden; J. Flenley; D. Feek; L. González Nualart; S. Haoa-Cardinali; T. Edmunds Gorman: Pollen, phytoliths, arthropods and high-resolution 14C sampling from Rano Kau, Easter Island: evidence for late Quaternary environments, ant (Formicidae) distributions and human activity. Journal of Paleolimnology 50(4): 417-432. 2013

*********************

edited: 10.12.2018

Ascetoderes strigatus (Arrow)

Banded Dry Bark Beetle (Ascetoderes strigatus)

The Banded Dry Bark Beetle was described in 1900 based on a single specimen that was collected on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species reached a size of about 0,8 cm; “The colour is black, with the antennae and legs a very dark red. The head and thorax are coarsely punctured, and there are a few scattered punctures on the first and third interstices of each elytron. The third interstice is also angularly elevated, and beyond it the striae are replaced by three sharp costae. Near the base of the thorax is a U-shaped impressed line enclosing a smooth area, and in front of this is a shallow depression.” [1]

The species is now most likely extinct. [2]

*********************

References:

[1] Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900
[2] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

*********************

Depiction from: ‘Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900’

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 27.04.2022

Newcombia pfeifferi ssp. decorata Pilsbry & Cooke

Decorated Newcombia Snail (Newcombia pfeifferi ssp. decorata)

The Decorated Newcombia Snail was described in 1912, it is, or rather was, endemic to the island of Moloka’i, Hawaiian Islands.

There is obviously no further information available about this species.

*********************

References:

[1] Mike Severns: A new species of newcombia from the Pleistocene of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands, USA (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Achatinellidae). Basteria 73: 57-60. 2009

*********************

edited: 16.05.2020

Ceodes rapaensis (J. Florence) E. F. S. Rossetto & Caraballo

Rapa Pisonia (Ceodes rapaensis)

This species was described in 2004; it was endemic to the island of Rapa in the Austral archipelago and is known from material that was apparently collected in 1921.

The species is now considered extinct, the reasons for its extinction are found in the ongoing habitat destruction by deforestation as well as in the introduced ungulates like cattle and goats who eat away any remaining native vegetation.

***

syn. Pisonia rapaensis J.Florence

*********************

edited: 26.02.2024

Blackburnia rugosa Liebherr & Porch

Rugose Blackburnia Ground Beetle (Blackburnia rugosa)

The Rugose Blackburnia Ground Beetle was described in 2015, it is known only from several subfossil remains that had been found in the deposits of the Makauwahi Cave on the island of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.

The species reached a size of about 0,8 to 1,1 cm and is distinguished from its congeners by its robust sclerotization. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] James K. Liebherr; Nick Porch: Reassembling a lost lowland carabid beetle assemblage (Coleoptera) from kauai, Hawaiian Islands. Invertebrate Systematics 29: 191-213. 2015

*********************

edited: 03.09.2019

Naesiotus alethorhytidus (Dall)

Santa Cruz Snail (Naesiotus alethorhytidus)

This species was described in 1917; it was restricted the southern part of Isla Santa Cruz in the Galapágos Islands and was apparently quite common when it was discovered and described.:

Indefatigable Island, in the moist area on the south side at 350 to 400 feet, and at all attitudes in the interior; (W. H. O.)
This almost comically small and wrinkled species is one of the most interesting finds of the Academy expedition. It is usually pink tipped, with white corrugations and the indentations more or less darkened by volcanic dust.
” [1]

The species was last found alive in 1974 and is thus believed to be possibly extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] William Healey Dall; Washington Henry Ochsner: Landshells of the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Ser. 4. Vol. 17.: 141-185. 1928

*********************

Photo from: ‘William Healey Dall; Washington Henry Ochsner: Landshells of the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Ser. 4. Vol. 17.: 141-185. 1928’

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

*********************

edited: 01.06.2021

Acalypha sericea var. baurii (B. L. Rob. & Greenm.) Webster

Baur’s Silky Copperleaf (Acalypha sericea var. baurii)

The Silky Copperleaf (Acalypha sericea Anderss.) is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where several varieties are found on many of the islands.

This one, discussed here, is apparently restricted to the Isla San Christóbal and is known only from a single collection that was purchased sometimes in the middle of the 19th century. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] I. Loren Wiggins; D. M. Porter; E. F. Anderson: Flora of the Galápagos Islands. Stanford University Press 1971

*********************

edited: 11.06.2020

Procloeon insignificans (McDunnough)

Insignificant Small Minnow Mayfly (Procloeon insignificans)

The Insignificant Small Minnow Mayfly was described in 1925; it is known only from its type locality which is somewhere in the vicinity of the city of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.

MALE. – Length of body 3mm., of fore wing 4 mm. Thoracic notum and pleura dark brown, sternum lighter brown, legs white, and wings hyaline, with longitudinal veins faintly yellowish. Basal abdominal tergites white, with a faint red, median streak on tergites 2 and 3, sternites 2 and 3 white; apical tergites light brown, sternites tan; genital forceps and caudal filaments white.” [1]

The species was never found since and is likely extinct now.

*********************

References:

[1] B. D. Burks: The mayflies, or Ephemoptera, Of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Bulletin 26: 1-216. 1953-1955

*********************

edited: 24.08.2022

Tymbopiptus valeas Kuschel

Giant Waitomo Weevil (Tymbopiptus valeas)

The Giant Waitomo Weevil was described in 1987, it is one of the first New Zealand insects to have been described based on subfossil remains.

The remains were recovered from deposits of at least two localities in the Waitomo District in the west of the North Island of New Zealand, one of them being the Buried Forest of Pureora, a site that was formed by pumice ejected during an eruption of Taupo crater at around 186 AD..

The Giant Waitomo Weevil was a very large species, it reached a length of up to 2 to 2,3 cm and was 0,75 to 0,92 cm wide. [1]

***

Many of the larger beetle species dissapeared from the New Zealand main islands as soon as the first Polynesian people arrived here and brought with them Polynesian Rats (Rattus exulans (Peale)), which predated on these large insects; some of the species were widespread and thus survived on rat-free offshore islands while others, that were restricted to certain parts of the main islands, just went extinct.

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References:

[1] G. Kuschel: The subfamily Molytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): general notes and descriptions of new taxa from New Zealand and Chile. New Zealand Entomologist 9: 11-29. 1987
[2] Corinne H. Watts; Maureen J. Marra; Chris J. green; Lynette A. Hunt; Danny Thornburrow: Comparing fossil and extant beetles in central North Island forests, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 49(1): 1-20. 2019

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Photo: Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd

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edited: 05.11.2020