Tag Archives: Australia

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]

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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

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

(public domain)

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edited: 27.04.2022

Rhipidura cervina Ramsay

Lord Howe Fantail (Rhipidura cervina)

The Lord Howe Fantail, also known as Fawn-breasted Fantail, was endemic to Lord Howe Island; it is sometimes als treated as a subspecies of the New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa (Sparrman)).

Nearly all of the endemic or native birds that formerly inhabited Lord Howe Island disappeared shortly after 1918, when the steamship ‘SS Makambo’ ran aground on Ned’s Beach in the northern part of the island and Black Rats (Rattus rattus (L.)) from the wreck came ashore.

The species was apparently last seen in 1924.

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Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australasian South Polar quadrant: with additions to “birds of Australia”. London: H. F. & G. Witherby 1928’

(public domain)

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edited: 30.10.2020

Earias latimargo Hampson

Christmas Island Bollworm (Earias latimargo)

The Christmas Island Bollworm was described in 1912 based on one male and four female specimens.

The species reached a wingspan of about 1,8 cm; the head and the thorax were yellowish green, the palpi were chocolate-brown and whitish at their base, the legs were chocolate-brown as well, the forewings were yellowish green with the costal edge being pale pinkish, each wing had a small chocolate-brown discoidal spot, the hindwings were whitish brown.

The Christmas Island Bollworm was originally considered common towards the end of the rainy season; however, the species has not seen since the 1930s and is now most likely extinct. [1][2]

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References:

[1] H. M. Pendlebury: Lepidoptera (Heterocera). Bulletin of the Raffles Museum 18: 58-73. 1947
[2] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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Depiction from: ‘George Francis Hampson: Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. London: printed by order of the Trustees 1898-1920’

(public domain)

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edited: 09.09.2020

Argynnis hyperbius ssp. inconstans (Butler)

Australian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius ssp. inconstans)

 

The Australian- or laced Fritillary was described in 1873, originally as a distinct species, but is now regarded as a subspecies of the Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius (L.)) (see photo). It is endemic to eastern Australia, where it is restricted to coastal areas of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The species inhabited damp areas where the host plants of its larvae, Banks’ Violet (Viola banksii K. R. Thiele & Prober) and the Arrow-leaved Violet (Viola betonicifolia Sm.), were found growing abundantly.

Most of the sites that this species was known to inhabit, have been destroyed due to human activities, thus the populations broke down and disappeared completely; the very last known specimen was finally caught on April 17th, 2001, the Australian Fritillary is now most likely totally extinct.

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References:

[1] Trevor A. lambkin: Argynnis hyperbius inconsistans Butler, 1873 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae): a review of its collection history and biology. Australian Entomologist 44(4): 223-268. 2017

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Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius)

Photo: Shriram Bhakare
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/milind_bhakare

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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edited: 07.08.2022

Anisodes hypomion Prout

Christmas Island Anisodes Geometer Moth (Anisodes hypomion)

This species was described in 1933, apparently based on a single specimen, a female: it has a wingspan of 2,2 cm; its wings have a light pinkish cinnamon color and bear several darker and lighter colored markings. [1]

The species was not found since and is considered possibly extinct. [2]

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References:

[1] Louis B. Prout: The Geometridae of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean Bulletin of the Raffles Museum 8: 88-94. 1933
[2] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 08.09.2020

Thomasia gardneri Paunt

Mouth Holland Thomasia (Thomasia gardneri)

The Mount Holland Thomasia was described in 1974, based on the type material that apparently was collected in 1929; it was restricted to a region somewhere near Mt. Holland in southern Western Australia.

The species is now most likely extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Kelly A. Sheperd: A key to the species of Thomasia (Malvaceae: Byttnerioideae). Nuytsia 30: 195-202. 2019

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edited: 03.05.2022

Hemithea hyperymna Prout

Christmas Island Emerald (Hemithea hyperymna)

The Christmas Island Emerald was described in 1933; it is, or rather was, endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species hasn’t been seen since the 1930s and might well be extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 02.05.2022

Taylorilygus murrayi (Izzard)

Murray’s Plant Bug (Taylorilygus murrayi)

This species, which is endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, was last recorded in 1933, it may now be extinct. [1]

There appear to exist no further information about this species.

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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

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edited: 07.05.2021

Peritropis listeri (Izzard)

Lister’s Capsid Bug (Peritropis listeri)

Lister’s Capsid Bug was restricted to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean; it is apparently known only from specimens that were collected in 1933. [1]

The species was not found since and is believed to be extinct.

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References:

[1] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 9.11.2021

Melobasis empyria Olliff

Fiery Jewel Beetle (Melobasis empyria)

The Fiery Jewel Beetle was described in 1889; it was endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species reached a length of 1,2 cm; it was “Coppery green, shining; prothorax bright coppery, purplish on the disc; scutellum fiery copper; elytra coppery, with purple refelxions, irregularly striate-punctate, the third and fourth interstices obviously raised.
Head nearly flat in front, coarsely and very densely punctured. Prothorax at the base more than one-third broader than long, considerably narrowed in front, rather strongly and sparingly punctured on the disc, the punctuation at the sides much stronger and denser, the anterior margin slightly produced in the middle, its angles produced and rounded; the sides rounded; the posterior margin nearly straight. Scutellum excessively finely punctured. Elytra about twice as long as broad, coppery, inclining to fiery near the suture and about the middle, rather strongly and irregularly striate-punctate; the sides straight and nearly parallel for about two-thirds of their length, then denticulate, and narrowed to the apex. Underside bright coppery green, the sterna strongly and not very closely punctured, the abdomen with the punctuation somewhat obsolete. legs coppery green, finely punctured, the tarsi darker.” [1]

The species has not been collected since the 1880s and is very likely extinct now. [2]

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References:

[1] Sidney Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum memoir 2: 75-98. 1889
[2] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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edited: 26.04.2022

Hypocambala exocoeti (Pocock)

Christmas Island Round-backed Millipede (Hypocambala exocoeti)

The Christmas Island Round-backed Millipede was described in 1888.

The species was not seen since its description and is now possibly extinct.

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References:

[1] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 09.09.2020

Somatidia pulchella Olliff

Beautiful Lord Howe Longhorn Beetle (Somatidia pulchella)

 

The Beautiful Lord Howe Longhorn Beetle was described in 1889; it was endemic to lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species reached a length of 1 cm; it was “Elongate, very convex, narrowed both in front and behind, bronze green, shining, tinged with purple, very sparingly clothed with erect testaceous setae; elytra strongly punctured near the base; antennae, tibiae, and tarsi pale reddish testaceous; femora fuscous. Head transverse, finely and sparingly pubescent, with a few punctures on the disc; the median line distinct. Antennae with the third joint rather longer than the first, the succeeding joints slightly decreasing in length. Prothorax longer than broad, less narrowed in front than behind, sub-cylindrical, rather strongly and closely punctured, the punctures less strong anteriorly, clothed with very fine pubescence and scattered setae. Scutellum triangular, very small. Elytra elongate-ovate, the punctuation strong and moderately dense near the base, gradually effaced posteriorly, clothed with very fine gray pubescence near the suture and at the sides, with four rows of long erect setae which emanate from punctures, and are separated by considerable intervals; each elytron with three longitudinal elevations on the basal half, of which the first only is conspicuous. Legs moderately long, finely pubescent; the femora thickened.” [1]

The species has not been collected since the 1910s and is now considered most likely extinct. [2]

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References:

[1] Sidney Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum memoir 2: 75-98. 1889
[2] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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Depiction from: ‘Sidney Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum memoir 2: 75-98. 1889’

(public domain)

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edited: 26.04.2022

Elasmotena insulana Olliff

Lord Howe Island Longhorn Beetle (Elasmotena insulana)

 

The Lord Howe Island Longhorn Beetle was described in 1890; it was endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species reached a length of about 2 cm; it was dark fuscous and was clothed with very fine decumbent griseous brown pubescence as well as sparingly with long erect hairs of the same color.

The Lord Howe Island Longhorn Beetle has not been collected since the 1880s and is now considered extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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Depiction from: ‘Sydney Olliff: Additions to the insect-fauna of Lord Howe Island, and descriptions of two new Australian Coleoptera. Records of the Australian Museum 1: 72-76. 1890’

(not in copyright)

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edited: 26.04.2022

Howeotranes insularis (Pascoe)

Mt. Gower Weevil (Howeotranes insularis)

The Mt. Gower Weevil was described in 1874; it was originally thought to be endemic to the summit of Mt. Gower but did also occur on the low elevations of Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species hasn’t been collected since the 1920s and is now considered extinct.

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References:

[1] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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edited: 26.04.2022

Comostolopsis regina Thierry-Mieg

Regina’s Comostolopsis Geometer Moth (Comostolopsis regina)

Regina’s Comostolopsis Geometer Moth was described in 1915 based on specimens that had been collected in the years between 1897 and 1898 on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species was apparently never found since and might be extinct.

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References:

[1] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 19.08.2022

Armactica andrewsi Hampson

Andrew’s Owlet Moth (Armactica andrewsi)

This species was described in 1912, it was endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean and was formerly considered very common during the greater part of the rainy season. [1]

The species has not been found since the 1930s and might now be extinct. [2]

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References:

[1] H. M. Pendlebury: Lepidoptera (Heterocera). Bulletin of the Raffles Museum 18: 58-73. 1947
[2] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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edited: 08.09.2020

Polyura sempronius ssp. tiberius (Waterhouse)

Lord Howe Island Tailed Emperor (Polyura sempronius ssp. tiberius)

The Lord Howe Island Tailed Emperor was described in 1920, it is endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The biology of this form is not well known, it was apparently last recorded in 1969, it is supposed to be extinct, but might in fact still exist.

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edited: 08.05.2021

Bocula limbata (Butler)

Bordered Bocula Moth (Bocula limbata)

The Bordered Bocula Moth was described in 1888; it is, or rather was, restricted to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species has not been found since the 1930s and is thought to be extinct now. [1]

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References:

[1] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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

(public domain)

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edited: 25.04.2022

Xenopsylla nesiotes (Jordan & Rothschild)

Maclear Rat Flea (Xenopsylla nesiotes)

 

The Maclear’s Rat Flea was described in 1908; it was strictly adapted to Maclears Rat (Rattus macleari (Thomas)) as its one and only host species.

The species died out together with its host around 1903.

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edited: 22.01.2022

Xylotoles wollastoni (White)

Wollaston’s Lord Howe Longhorn Beetle (Xylotoles wollastoni)

Wollaston’s Lord Howe Longhorn Beetle is endemic to Lord Howe Island; it was described in 1856, was apparently only seen one time after 1916 and might now be extinct.

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Depiction from: ‘A. White: Descriptions of some coleopterous insects in the Collection of the British Museum, hitherto apparently unnoticed. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 24. 8-17. 1856’

(public domain)

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edited: 27.04.2021

Anas sp. ‘Macquarie Islands’

Macquarie Island Duck (Anas sp.)

 

The Macquarie Island Duck is known only from subfossil bones that were recovered from deposits on the island of Macquarie in the subantarctic Pacific Ocean. [1]

This was a flightless duck, very much alike the likewise flightless Auckland Teal (Anas aucklandica Gray) which inhabits the Auckland Islands in the subantarctic part of New Zealand or the Campbell Island teal (Anas nesiotis J. H. Fleming), which again is restricted to the subantarctic Campbell Islands, and which once was also almost extinct.

The Macquarie Island Duck certainly fell victim to the cats that had been imported to its island home by sailors and whalers that used Macquarie Island as a base camp.

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References:

[1] Trevor H. Worthy, Richard N. Holdaway: The Lost World of the Moa, Prehistoric Life of New Zealand. Indiana University Press, Bloomington 2002
[2] Alan J. D. Tennyson; R. Paul Scofiled: Holocene fossil bird remains from subantarctic Macquarie Island. Paleornithological Research. Proceed. 8th Internat. Meeting Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution 2013

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Auckland Teal (Anas aucklandica Gray) (the two birds on the right) together with New Zealand Brown Duck (Anas chlorotis)

Depiction from: ‘John C. Phillips: A Natural History of the Ducks. Boston; Houghton Mifflin Company; 1922-1926’

(public domain)

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edited: 10.11.2021

Aplonis fusca (Gould)

Norfolk Starling (Aplonis fusca)

The Norfolk Starling, aka. Tasman Starling, was restricted to Norfolk Island.

The species reached a size of 20 cm; it was greyish brown colored, with the males having some metallic glossy green feathers on the head.

The Norfolk Starling disappeared due to a combination of several factors, including competition from introduced European Starlings and thrushes, overhunting and destruction of their habitats through agricultural clearings.

The species was apparently last seen in 1923.

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Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australasian South Polar quadrant: with additions to “birds of Australia”. London: H. F. & G. Witherby 1928’

(public domain)

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edited: 30.04.2021

Lacordairia fugax (Olliff)

Swift Lord Howe Ground Beetle (Lacordairia fugax)

The Swift Lord Howe Ground Beetle was described in 1889; it was endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species reached a length of about 1,3 cm; it was “Elongate-ovate, dark piceous, shining, sometimes with a bluish tinge; elytra strongly striate, the interstices rather narrow, plain; antennae (except the basal joint) and palpi reddish testaceous; legs rufo-piceous.
Head narrow; eyes rather prominent. Antennae more than two-thirds the length of the body, the basal joint piceous. Prothorax narrowed behind, with a distinct median line; the sides rounded in front; posterior angles rounded: Elytra oblong-ovate, very slightly contracted before the middle, strongly and regularly striate, the interstices narrow and smooth, the second stria, on each side, with an obscure puncture before the middle; sides slightly sinuate before the apex. Legs rather long.” [1]

The Swift Lord Howe Ground Beetle was last recorded before 1900 and is now considered extinct. [2]

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References:

[1] Sidney Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum memoir 2: 75-98. 1889
[2] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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edited: 26.04.2022

Streblorrhiza speciosa Endl.

Phillip Island Glory Pea (Streblorrhiza speciosa)

The Phillip Island Glory Pea, aka. Flesh-colored Glory Pea, was endemic to Phillip Island in the Norfolk Islands; it is the sole member of its monotypic genus.

The species died out in the wild around 1830 due to introduced ungulates, however, it was kept in several botanical gardens for some time, however, all these cultivated plants seem to have subsequently disappeared as well.

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Depiction from: ‘Edward’s Botanical Register 27. 1841’

(public domain) 

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edited: 25.05.2021

Hesperus gigas (Lea)

Giant Lord Howe Island Roof Beetle (Hesperus gigas)

The Giant Lord Howe Island Roof Beetle was described in 1929 based on specimens that had been collected from the summit of Mt. Lidgbird on Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species was flightless, it reached a size of about 1,7 cm, making it a true giant compared to most other species of its family.

The Giant Lord Howe Island Roof Beetle has never been found again since its description, and it is quite clear that this big insect fell victim to introduced mice and rats, it is now extinct. [1][2]

***

Lord Howe Island still harbors two very large members of the same genus: Hesperus dolichoderes (Lea) and Hesperus pacificus Olliff. [2]

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References:

[1] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007
[2] Arn Rytter Jensen; Josh Jenkins Shaw; Dagmara Żyła; Alexey Solodovnikov: A total-evidence approach resolves phylogenetic placement of ‘Cafius’ gigas, a unique recently extinct rove beetle from Lord Howe Island. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 190(4): 1159-1174. 2020

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edited: 26.04.2022

Leptopius etheridgei (Olliff)

Etheridge’s Leptopius Weevil (Leptopius etheridgei)

 

Etheridge’s Leptopius Weevil was described in 1889; it was restricted to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

the species reached a length of about 1,2 cm; it was “Elongate ovate, piceous, densely covered with griseous scales; rostrum long, depressed in the middle; prothorax rugulose, narrowed in front; elytra ample, seriate-punctate, obtusely bi-tuberculate posteriorly.
Head thickly covered with scales, those near the sides inclining to ochraceous; rostrum about as long as the prothorax. Eyes narrow, vertical. Antennae rather long, the scape closely scaled, funiculus finely pubescent. Prothorax decidedly broader than long, moderately strongly rugulose, the scales inclining to ochraceous at the sides, an obscure median carina which is effaced anteriorly. Scutellum distinct, pointed behind. Elytra about two and a half times as long as the prothorax, somewhat flattened above, moderately strongly seriate-punctate, the punctures widely separated and somewhat irregular, the interstices broad and slightly raised, the third interstice slightly and the sixth rather strongly elevated posteriorly, giving the elytra a bi-tuberculate appearance. Underside and legs moderately closely scaled and finely pubescent.” [1]

The species has not been collected since the 1910s and is now considered extinct. [2]

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References:

[1] Sidney Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum memoir 2: 75-98. 1889
[2] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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Depiction from: ‘Sidney Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum memoir 2: 75-98. 1889’

(public domain)

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edited: 26.04.2022

Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. undulata (Latham)

Norfolk Island Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. undulata)

The Norfolk Island Boobook was described in 1801; it was endemic to Norfolk Island, where it inhabited the subtropical rainforests.

The taxon disappeared after the European settlers begun to clear the forests.

The population was reduced to a last surviving bird in 1986, a female bird named Miamiti, which died in 1996.

***

This female mated with a male boobook of the nominate race that had been introduced to Norfolk Island and produced some offspring, which again has given rise to the small population of hybrid boobooks that now inhabit this island.

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Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australian south polar quadrant with additions to “The Birds of Australia”. London: H. F. & G. Witherby 1928’

(public domain)

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edited: 05.11.2021

Moca chlorolepis (Walsingham)

Green-scaled Moca Moth (Moca chlorolepis)

The Green-scaled Moca Moth was described in 1900; it was endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species reaches a wingspan of up to 2,8 cm; the head is greyish brown, the thorax is dark brown, sprinkled with greenish and pale cinereous scales, the abdomen is greyish brown, the forewings are dark brown, profusely sprinkled with pale yellowish green scales, the hindwings are greyish brown.

The species has apparently never been recorded since its description and is believed to be extinct.

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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
[3] 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

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edited: 08.05.2022

Drymodes superciliaris ssp. colcloughi Mathews

Roper River Scrub Robin (Drymodes superciliaris ssp. colcloughi)

The Roper River Scrub Robin, a subspecies of the Scrub Robin (Drymodes superciliaris Gould), was described in 1914 based on two specimens, a female and a male, that are said to had been found in the Northern Territory of Australia.

“Differs from D. s . superciliaris in being much redder on the back and entirely reddish-buff on the under-surface. Roper River, Northern Territory.” [1]

There are no additional records of Scrub Robins from the Northern Territory and this subspecies, if it indeed is a valid one, is considered extinct.

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References:

[1] Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. Vol. 9. London: Witherby & Co. 1921-1922

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Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. Vol. 9. London: Witherby & Co. 1921-1922’

(public domain)

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edited: 15.05.2021

Lepidium drummondii Thell.

Drummond’s Scurvy Grass (Lepidium drummondii)

Drummond’s Scurvy Grass was described in 1906, it was restricted to the vicinity of the Swan River in Western Australia.

The species was last collected in 1846 and is now extinct.

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References:

[1] B. Dell; J. J. Havel; N. Malajczuk: The Jarrah Forest: A complex mediterranean ecosystem. Dordrecht; Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers 1989

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edited: 16.09.2019

Mathewsoconcha belli Preston

Bell‘s Mathewsoconcha Snail (Mathewsoconcha belli)  

Bell’s Matthewsoconcha Snail was described in 1913.  

The shells reached a size of about 0,9 cm in diameter, they were dark reddish brown and bore a yellowish peripheral band.  

The species inhabited the 320 m high Mt. Pitt and disappeared due to predation by introduced rats.  

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References:  

[1] H. B. Preston: Characters of new Genera and Species of Terrestrial Mollusca from Norfolk Island. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8th ser. Vol. 12: 522-538. 1913 
[2] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951  

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Depiction from: ‘Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951’

(under creative commons license (3.0)) 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

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edited: 23.03.2018

Acacia kingiana Maiden & Blakely

King’s Wattle (Acacia kingiana)

The King’s Wattle was described in 1928, it was endemic to Western Australia.

The species was a shrub of about 2 to 3 m height, like most of its kin it did not have leafes as a fuklly-grown plant but so-called phyllodes, leaf-shaped twigs, which in this species were about 0,1 cm long and 0,2 cm wide [which is a odd size in my opinion], and furthermore had yellow flowers.

The King’s Wattle is now most likely extinct.

***

Two additional wattle species, Acacia mathuataensis A. C. Sm. from Vanua Levu, Fiji and Acacia prismifolia E. Pritz. from Western Australia were formerly thought to be extinct as well, but were both rediscovered in 2015 and 2018 respectively.

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edited: 06.02.2020

Angrobia dulvertonensis (J. E. Tenison-Woods)

Macquarie Slug (Angrobia dulvertonensis)

The Macquarie Slug was described in 1876; it was a freshwater snail that was restricted to Port Macquarie, a coastal town on the mid north coast of New South Wales, Australia.

The species was last seen in 1996 and is now considered most likely extinct.

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edited: 14.11.2021

Columba vitiensis ssp. godmanae (Mathews)

Lord Howe White-throated Pigeon (Columba vitiensis ssp. godmanae)

Described in 1915, this species is still exclusively known by some contemporaneous accounts and depictions made in the early 1800s.

This beautiful bird was restricted to Lord Howe island and was one of the first bird forms from that island to go extinct; it was actually hunted (and eaten) to extinction already by the first few European settlers on the island.

The Lord Howe White-throated Pigeon is now usually considered a subspecies of the White-throated Pigeon (Columba vitiensis Qouy & Gaimard) which is distributed from the Philippines to eastern Indonesia, parts of Melanesia to westernmost Polynesia; however, the species is a candidate for splitting, and some forms should rather be regarded as distinct species, including the extinct one from Lord Howe Island.

The pigeons were last recorded in 1853.

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

Depiction from an album of watercolor drawings of Australian natural history owned by a man named Robert Anderson Seton; ca. 1800

(public domain)

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

edited: 19.08.2022

Amphibromus whitei C. E. Hubb.

White’s Wallaby Grass (Amphibromus whitei)  

White’s Wallaby Grass is only known from the type material, that was collected in the year 1933 at the edge of a large fresh water swamp in an area named Maranoa in the south of Queensland.  

It is an about 20 to 35 cm tall grass.  

The species was never fund again, and is considered most likely extinct.  

*********************  

edited: 23.09.2017

Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. albaria (Ramsay)

Lord Howe Island Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. albaria)

 

The Lord Howe Island Boobook was endemic to Lord Howe Island, where it inhabited the dense rainforests.

It was larger than the nominate form from New Zealand, and should probably rather be considered a distinct species.

Like so many other bird species from Lord Howe Island, also this owl species was severely affected by the grounding of the steamship ‘SS Makambo’ in 1918 which led to a literal flooding of the island by ship rats which killed many of the birds but especially destroyed their nests and eggs; additionally at least two Australian owl species, Australian Boobooks (Ninox boobook (Latham)) and Australian Masked Owls (Tyto novaehollandiae (Stephens)), were imported to Lord Howe Island in the 1920s to get rid of the rat plague, these owl species may also have taken their toll on the endemic form.

The Lord Howe Boobook might have survived into the 1950s when boobook calls were heard; these calls however, may also have come from the Australian Booboock, which apparently has since also vanished from the island.

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

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australian south polar quadrant with additions to “The Birds of Australia”. London: H. F. & G. Witherby 1928’

(public domain)

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

edited: 05.11.2021

Hemiphaga spadicea (Latham)

Norfolk Island Pigeon (Hemiphaga spadicea)

The Norfolk Island Pigeon is still often regarded to as a subspecies of the New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae (Gmelin)) but clearly constitutes a distinct species.

The species reached a size of 50 cm and differed from the New Zealand Pigeon mainly by the coloration of its wings, which were grey instead of green.

The Norfolk Island Pigeon was apparently last recorded in 1838 and appears to have been gone just by one year later, the reasons for its extinction are overhunting but also predation by introduced mammals, especially cats.

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

Depiction from: ‘Lionel Walter Rothschild: Extinct birds: an attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times: that is, within the last six or seven hundred years: to which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction. London: Hutchinson & Co. 1907’

(public domain)

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

edited: 29.05.2019

Porphyrio albus (White)

Lord Howe Swamphen (Porphyrio albus)

The Lord Howe Swamphen was described in 1790, it was endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species was larger than the Australian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus (Temminck)), which inhabits Lord Howe Island today, it was furthermore adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle, had shorter toes, was completely flightless – and, the most conspicuous character, was for a long time thought to have had a completely white plumage.

This last assumption is now known to be untrue, the birds started their lifes as black-plimaged chicks, then turned into semiadult, blue-colored birds (the birds were completely blue, darker on the upperside than on the underside, with a rather darkish, almost black head), then later turning into complete white when growing older. 

This also explains the contemporary accounts who report of blue-, blue and white- as well as completely white birds to be found on Lord Howe Island. [1]

***

The Lord Howe Swamphen disappeared shortly after its discovery, most likely due to direkt hunting by sailors of whaling ships and other ships during stays on the island for the purpose of filling up their ship’s proviant.

Today only two specimens of this beautiful and interesting species exist, one, which is kept in Vienna, Austria, is a fully adult bird and even has claws on the edges of its wings. [1]

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

References:

[1] Heinvan Grouw; Julian P. Hume: The history and morphology of Lord Howe Gallinule or Swamphen Porphyrio albus (Rallidae). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 136(3): 172-198. 2016

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

Depiction from: ‘Lionel Walter Rothschild: Extinct birds: an attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times: that is, within the last six or seven hundred years: to which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction. London: Hutchinson & Co. 1907’

(public domain)

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

edited: 18.05.2019

Amytornis modestus ssp. inexpectatus (Mathews)

Eastern Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus ssp. inexpectatus)  

The Eastern Thick-billed Grasswren was described in 1912, it inhabited dense vegetation in the Murray-Darling basin in the northwestern part of New South Wales.  

The bird reached a length of about 16 cm.  

The Eastern Thick-billed Grasswren was never found again since its description and is considered extinct.  

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

birds on top, left and right; together with Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi Mellor) (bottom left)  

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co. 1910-1927’  

(public domain) 

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

edited: 22.03.2018

Deyeuxia lawrencei Vickery

Lawrence’s Bentgrass (Deyeuxia lawrencei)  

Lawrence’s Bentgrass was described in 1940, it is known only from the type specimen that was collected around 1831 probably somewhere near the city of Launceston in the northern part of Tasmania, Australia.  

The species was never recorded again since and is thougth to be extinct. [1]  

*********************  

References:  

[1] Mark Wapstra; Fred Duncan; Alex Buchanan; Richard Schahinger: Finding a botanical Lazarus: Tales of Tasmanian plant species ‘risen from the dead’. The Tasmanian Naturalist 128: 61-85. 2006  

*********************  

edited: 08.01.2019

Taudactylus acutirostris (Andersson)

Sharp-nosed Torrent Frog (Taudactylus acutirostris)

The Sharp-nosed Torrent Frog, also known as Sharp-snouted Day Frog, was described in 1916 and is resp. was endemic to the upland rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

The species was locally abundant, but its population begun to decline rapidly in 1988 certainly due to the spread of the deadly chytridiomycosis fungal disease that killed and still kills amphibian species all over the world.

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

Depiction from: ‘Lars Gabriel Andersson: Results of Dr. E. Mjöbergs Swedish scientific expeditions to Australia 1910-1913; IX Batrachians from Queensland. Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar 52(9): 1-20.1916’

(public domain)

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

edited: 13.01.2019

Antrophyum austroqueenslandicum D. L. Jones

Blue Pool Fern (Antrophyum austroqueenslandicum)  

This species was described in 1998, it is known from a single plant that was found in the subtropical rainforest in the Lamington National Park in Queensland, Australia.  

The species was characterized by small, 4 to 8 cm long, coriaceous fronds, narrowly winged stipes and short sori on the lateral veins.  

*********************  

edited: 12.01.2019

Costora iena Mosely

Great Lake Caddisfly (Costora iena)

The Great Lake Caddisfly was described in 1936; it was apparently restricted to the Shannon River including the Shannon Lagoon as well as the Great Lake in the center of Tasmania.

The species was mainly fuscous brown colored and reached a wingspan of about 2 cm.

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

edited: 23.04.2022

Amytornis textilis ssp. carteri (Mathews)

Dirk Hartog Island Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis textilis ssp. carteri)  

The Dirk Hartog Island Thick-billed Grasswren was endemic to Dirk Hartog island off Western Australia, where it inhabited dense Acacia bushland.  

The birds disappeared due to predation by feral cats and were last recorded in 1916 [or 1918 according to which source].  

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

birds on bottom and top; together with Southwestern Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis textilis ssp. macrourus (Gould))

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co. 1910-1927’

(public domain)

*********************  

edited: 22.03.2018

Vanvoorstia bennettiana (Harvey) Papenfuss

Bennett’s Seaweed (Vanvoorstia bennettiana)  

Bennett’s Seaweed is probably the first marine algae species that was officially declared extinct.  

This very small red alga species was described in 1859, it may probably always only have occurred on two places within the harbor of Sydney at the coast of New South Wales, where it apparently was still quite common at the time when it was discovered.  

The extinction of this species was caused by various human activities that led to a pollution of the water with suspended sediments which again were blocking the very fine clathrate branches of the algae, resulting in the inhibition of photosynthesis and causing the dead of the plants.  

The last living examples were found in 1886.  

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

Depiction from: ‘William Henry Harvey: Phycologia Australica; or, A History of Australian Seaweeds; comprising coloured figures and descriptions of the more characteristic marine algae of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia and a synopsis of all known Australian algae. London, L. Reeve 1858-63’  

(not in copyright)

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

edited: 21.03.2018

Bettongia pusilla McNamarra

Nullabor Dwarf Bettong (Bettongia pusilla)

The Nullabor Dwarf Bettong was described in 1997 based on subfossil skeletal remains that were found in caves on the Nullabor Plain, an large arid desert region in southern Australia.

The species apparently disappeared shortly after the arrival of European settlers in the region, who brought with them cats and foxes which preyed upon the native mammals and still do so up to this day.

***

The native people of the Pilbara region allegedly have two names for a very small kangaroo species, weelba respectively wirlpa, which may have originally been used for this species. [1]

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

References:

[1] Chris Johnson: Australia’s Mammal Extinctions: a 50000 year history. Cambridge University Press 2006

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

Photo from: ‘J. A. McNamarra: Some smaller macropod fossils of South Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 117: 97-106. 1997’

(under creative commons license (3.0))
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

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

edited: 29.05.2019

Nestor productus (Gould)

Norfolk Island Kaka (Nestor productus)

The Norfolk Island Kaka was described in 1836, it was restricted to the Norfolk Islands, where it was the largest parrot species.

The species reached a size of about 33 cm, it was rather variable but was mainly very bright yellow and brick red colored on the underside, while the upper side was mainly dark brown. The beak was very much elongated and several specimens show strange bill deformities.

The Norfolk Island Kaka disappeared due to overhunting.

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

Depiction from: Henry O. Forbes; Herbert C. Robinson: Catalogue of the parrots (Psittaci) in the Derby Museum. bulletin of the Liverpool Museums 1: 5-22. 1898

(public domain)

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

edited: 16.02.2020

Amytornis textilis ssp. giganturus (Milligan)

Northern Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis textilis ssp. giganturus)  

The Northern Thick-billed Grasswren was endemic to Western Australia, it was originally discovered near the town of Mount Magnet, it was also found near the town of Wiluna and around Lake Carnegie, where it inhabited the salt-tolerant vegetation.  

The Northern Thick-billed Grasswren was not found since 1908 [or 1909 according to which source] and is now extinct.  

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

birds on bottom, left and right; together with Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus ssp. modestus (North))

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co. 1910-1927’

(public domain) 

*********************  

edited: 22.03.2018

Oberonia attenuata Dockrill

Elongated Oberonia (Oberonia attenuata)  

The Elongated Oberonia comes from the southern part of the Cape Your Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia, it allegedly also occurs (or occurred) in New Guinea, however. 

The species is considered extinct, the reasons therefor, however, appear to be unknown.

*********************  

edited: 21.06.2020

Spirancinea napeanensis (Preston)

Napean Island Amber Snail (Spirancinea napeanensis)

This species was described in 1913 based on subfossil shells that were found on the tiny Napean Island offshore the southern coast of Norfolk Island. The shells show a wide variability and thus were originally described as two species, which subsequently were synonymized with each other. 

***

The Napean Island form could well be conspecific with the Norfolk Island Amber Snail (Spirancinea norfolkensis (Sykes)) or could be assigned to that species as a subspecies. 

*********************  

References:  

[1] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951  

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

Photo from: ‘Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951’  

(under creative commons license (3.0))  
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

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

edited: 29.03.2021

Amperea xiphoclada var. pedicellata R. J. F. Henderson

Pedicellate Broom Spurge (Amperea xiphoclada var. pedicellata)  

This variety of the Broom Spurge (Amperea xiphoclada (Sieber ex Spreng.) Druce) is known only from the type material that was collected near Sydney, New South Wales; it differs from the nominate form (see photo below) by the prominently pedicellate female flowers.

Since this form was never found since, it is considered extinct.

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

Broom Spurge (Amperea xiphoclada (Sieber ex Spreng.) Druce); nominate race

Photo: Melburnian

(under creative commons license (3.0))
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ 

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

edited: 30.04.2021

Persoonia prostrata R. Br.

Prostrate Persoonia (Persoonia prostrata)

The Prostrate Persoonia is, or maybe was, endemic to the northern tip of Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia, where it was found growing in sand dunes as well as in woods.

The species was described in 1810, it is known from only two collections and may in fact just be a prostrate form of another species, the Broad-leaved Persoonia (Persoonia stradbrokensis Domin) (see photo), which, however, is not known to grow on Fraser Island. [1]

The Prostrate Persoonia was a prostrate shrub with elliptic to spathulate, up to 5 cm long leaves.

The species is probably extinct.

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

References:

[1] Peter H. Weston; L. A. S. Johnson: Taxonomic changes in Persoonia (Proteaceae) in New South Wales. Telopea 4(2): 269-306. 1991

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

Broad-leaved Persoonia (Persoonia stradbrokensis)

Photo: C. T. Johansson

(under creative commons license (3.0))
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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

edited: 09.11.2021

Paspalum batianoffii B. K. Simon

Batianoff’s Paspalum Grass (Paspalum batianoffii)  

Batianoff’s Paspalum Grass was described in 1992, it was collected in the Statue Bay, about 6,5 km southeast of the town of Yeppon in the Gladstone District (formerly Port Curtis District) in Queensland, Australia.

The species had 20 to 40 cm long, creeping stems. 

Batianoff’s Paspalum Grass inhabited a very narrow foredune with open wood land consisting of some common, widely distributed plant species, it was found growing directly above the flood mark, acting as a sand stabilizer. 

***

The species is apparently extinct today, however, the reasons for this appear to be unknown. 

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

edited: 19.06.2020

Perameles eremiana Spencer

Desert Bandicoot (Perameles eremiana)

The Desert Bandicoot, described in 1897, was restricted to the arid center of Australia; the natives there called it iwurra, mulgaruquirra and waliya.

The nocturnal and flesh-eating species inhabited dry, sandy areas covered with spinifex grass (Spinifex spp.) and other tusock grasses.

The Desert Bandicoot disappeared most likely due to predation by feral cats and Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes (L.)) introduced from Europe; the last sighting took place in 1943 in Western Australia.

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

Photo: David Staples
https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/specimens/121333

(under creative commons license (4.0))
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

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

edited: 19.01.2020

Festuca archeri E. B. Alexeev

Archer’s Fescue (Festuca archeri)  

Archer’s Fescue was described in 1987, it is known exclusively from the type specimen that was collected at an unknown locality in Tasmania, Australia, and which consists of the upper part of a single culm and its inflorescence.  

The species was never found again and is most likely extinct. [1]  

*********************  

References:  

[1] Mark Wapstra; Fred Duncan; Alex Buchanan; Richard Schahinger: Finding a botanical Lazarus: Tales of Tasmanian plant species ‘risen from the dead’. The Tasmanian Naturalist 128: 61-85. 2006  

*********************  

edited: 08.01.2019

Johannesoconcha minuscula Preston

Minuscule Johannesoconcha Snail (Johannesoconcha minuscula)

This species was described in the year 1913 on the basis of subfossil material that was found first in the limestone of the southeast coast of Norfolk Island and later also on other places on the island.  

The shells of this species reached an average size of 0,1 cm in diameter. 

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

References:

[1] H. B. Preston: Characters of new Genera and Species of Terrestrial Mollusca from Norfolk Island. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8th ser. Vol. 12: 522-538. 1913
[2] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951

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

edited: 30.11.2018

Sirovena stigma Boucek

Stigmated Fig Wasp (Sirovena stigma)

This species was described in 1988; it is, or maybe was, endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species is known exclusively from old collections that were made in the years between 1897 and 1902; it has not been found since and might well be extinct.

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

edited: 12.08.2022

Cosmoclostis quadriquadra Walsingham

Christmas Island Plume Moth (Cosmoclostis quadriquadra)

The Christmas Island Plume Moth was described in 1900; as its name implies, t is endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

“Antennae white. Palpi scarcely projecting beyond the head; white. Head pale rust-brown above, face white. Thorax yellowish white anteriorly, rust-brown posteriorly; under-side shining white, tinged with yellowish at the sides. Fore wings cleft to beyond middle; yellowish white, the costae and dorsum narrowly pale rust-brown; a few rust-brown scales crossing the wings at one-fourth are succeeded by a rust-brown patch at the base of the fissure, wider on the tornal than on the apical lobe; before the middle of the apical lobe is another transverse oblique rust-brown patch of the same colour which overflows the dorsal but not the costal cilia; on the tornal lobe there is also a broad straight transverse rust-brown patch beyond its middle, colouring the cilia above and below it, the cilia (except where so coloured) are whitish. Exp. al. 11-13 mm. Hind wings and cilia bronzy grey, the cilia of the dorsal lobe paler. Abdomen rich rust-brown, with four quadrate whitish patches above – one basal, one ante-median, one post-median, and one on the anal segment; under-side shining white, tinged with yellowish at the sides. Hind legs white, smeared above on the tibiae and banded on the tarsi with pale rust-brown; spurs white, tinged with rust-brown before their extremities, the scales at the base of the spurs not conspicuously raised, rust-brown mixed with white.” [1]

***

The species has not been recorded since the 1930s and might well be extinct.

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

References:

[1] Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900

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

edited: 12.08.2022

Senecio tasmanicus I. Thomps.

Tasmanian Fireweed (Senecio tasmanicus)

The Tasmanian Fireweed was described in 2004; it was very likely long extinct at that time.

The species was endemic to the island of Tasmania, where it was found at an unspecified place in the northern Midlands; it probably grew at lowland plains near swamps; it was actually last recorded in the mid 1800s and is now very likely extinct. [1]

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

References:

[1] Mark Wapstra; Ian Thompson; Alex Buchanan: An illustrated and annotated key to the Tasmanian species of Senecio (Asteraceae). Kanunnah 3: 49-93. 2008

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

edited: 13.08.2022

Dasyornis broadbenti ssp. litoralis (Milligan)

Western Rufous Bristlebird (Dasyornis broadbenti ssp. litoralis)

The Western Rufous Bristlebird, a slightly smaller subspecies of the Rufous Bristlebird, was discovered in 1901 at a place named Ellensbrook near the Margaret River in Western Australia, it was described as a new species in 1902 based on a single specimen. [1]

The bird inhabited an extremely restricted range, an about 50 km long stretch of coastal scrub between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Mentelle in the south-western part of Western Australia, where it inhabited dense, stunted shrubland on cliffs and dunes.

The last reliable record took place in 1908, when a second specimen was collected; since then there have been some unconfirmed sightings only and the Western Rufous Bristlebird has finally been listed as extinct in 1999. The reason for its extinction is thought to be the destruction of its shrubland habitat which was repeatedly burnt in the early 20th century to create pasture.

Everything that we know today about the life of this bird comes from the notices of its discoverer.:

“The food of the bird, as revealed by dissection, consisted wholly of land snails, those marine-like looking forms which are found in abundance on the coastal limestone hills, apparently lifeless in hot weather, but full of vitality after a shower of rain. One snail, with the shell perfect, was found in the stomach.” [1]

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

References:

[1] Alex Wm. Milligan: Description of a new Bristle Bird (Sphenura). The Emu 1: 67-69. 1902

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

Depiction from: ‘John Gould: The Birds of Australia. Supplement. London: printed by Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. published by the author 1869’

(public domain)

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

edited: 18.05.2022

Quintalia stoddartii ssp. intermedia Preston

Intermediate Quintalia Snail (Quintalia stoddartii ssp. intermedia)

This subspecies of Stoddart’s Snail was described in 1913; it was restricted to Napean- and Norfolk Island, Norfolk Islands.

This form is now extinct.

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

References:

[1] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951

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

Depiction from: ‘Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951’

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

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

edited: 17.08.2022

Notomys amplus Brazenor

Short-tailed Hopping Mouse (Notomys amplus)

The Short-tailed Hopping Mouse was described in 1936 based on two female specimens that were collected already in 1896; it inhabited open, stony plains with a vegetation dominated by grasses and low shrubs in the vicinity of the town of Alice Springs in central Australia.

The species apparently disappeared due to predation by introduces cats and foxes, combined with habitat destruction.

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

Photo: David Staples;
Museums Victoria Collections
https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/specimens/1550320
accessed 12 August 2022

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

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

edited: 11.08.2022

Persoonia laxa L. A. S. Johnson & P. H. Weston

Loose Persoonia (Persoonia laxa)

This taxon was described in 1991, it is known exclusively from herbarium material that was collected in 1908 at what today is a suburban area of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, Australia.

The species is most likely extinct. [1]

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

References:

[1] Peter H. Weston; L. A. S. Johnson: Taxonomic changes in Persoonia (Proteaceae) in New South Wales. Telopea 4(2): 269-306. 1991

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

edited: 09.11.2021

Dromaius novaehollandiae ssp. minor (Spencer)

King Island Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae ssp. minor)

The King Island Emu was a dwarf subspecies of the Australian Emu that was restricted to the small King Island in the Bass Strait between Australia and Tasmania; it was actually the smallest emu form known so far.

The birds reached heights (at the back) of about 50 cm.

The King Island Emus were eradicated by the first European settlers who hunted thousands of them every month; the birds disappeared around 1805. Two birds that were caught and brought into captivity in Paris, France, survived until 1822, outliving their wild fellows; the depiction shown here is based on the skin of one of them, which is now kept in the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris.

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

Depiction from: ‘Centenaire de la fondation du Muséum d’histoire naturelle 10 juin 1793 – 10 juin 1893. volume commémoratif. puplié par les Professeurs du Muséum. Paris: Imperimerie nationale 1893’

(public domain)

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

edited: 17.08.2022

Paranitocrella bastiani Tang & Knott

Bastian’s Copepod (Paranitocrella bastiani)

Bastian’s Copepod was described in 2009 based on several specimens that were collected between 1992 and 1996 from underground freshwater streams in the extensive karstic cave system within the Yanchep National Park in Western Australia.

The species inhabited floating root mats produced by so-called Tuart trees (Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC.) growing above the caves; these root mats provide an abundant and constant food source for several aquatic invertebrates, including this highly specialized copepod.

However, unsustainable use of the Gnangara Mound, which feeds the area’s underground streams, has led to a loss of water and consequently to the loss of the only habitat of this species, which hasn’t been found since the 1990s and which is now believed to be extinct. [1]

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

References:

[1] Danny Tang; Brenton Knott: Freshwater cyclopoids and harpacticoids (Crustacea: Copepoda) from the Gnangara Mound region of Western Australia. Zootaxa 2029: 1-70. 2009

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

edited: 20.01.2020

Microcarbo serventyorum van Tets

Serventy’s Cormorant (Microcarbo serventyorum)  

This species was described in 1994 based on subfossil remains that were recovered from a peat swamp near Bullsbrook, a suburb of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, Australia. [1]  

The species was apparently closely related, yet not identical with the Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos (Vieillot)) (see photo), which is still quite common in parts of Australia today.  

*********************  

References:  

[1] G. F. van Tets: An extinct new species of cormorant (Phalacrocoracidae, Aves) from a Western Australian peat swamp. Records of the South Australian Museum 27(2): 135–138. 1994  

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

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos (Vieillot)) 

Photo: J. J. Harrison

(under creative commons license (3.0)) 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 

*********************  

edited: 06.11.2017

Rattus nativitatis (Thomas)

Bulldog Rat (Rattus nativitatis)

The Bulldog Rat was described in 1900.:

“Size large; form thick and clumsy, the limbs and tail stout and heavy, but the head peculiarly small, slender, and delicate. General colour dark umber-brown all over, the belly not or scarcely lighter than the back. Ears small, laid forward they barely reach to the posterior canthus of the eye. Fur of back, long, thick, and coarse, but without the extremely long piles so characteristic of M. macleari, the longest hairs being about 40 to 45 mm. in length. Hands and feet very thick and heavy; the claws, especially on the fore feet, enormously broad and strong, not compressed, more than twice the size of those of M. macleari, and evidently modified for burrowing. Palms and soles naked, smooth; the pads broad, low, and rounded, unusually little prominent; last hind foot pad elongate. Tail shorter than the body without the head, very thick, evenly tapering, nearly or quite naked; its scales triangular, very large, the rings averaging about seven or eight to the centimetre; its colour uniform blackish brown throughout, above and below, the white skin, however, showing to a certain extent between the scales.” [1]

The species reached a size of about 45 cm, including the tail.

***

The species was endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, it was one of only five mammal species inhabiting that island naturally, all of them endemic and all of them, except for one, now extinct.

The Bulldog Rat inhabited the floor of the dense rainforest, the animals lived in small colonies and built burrows among tree roots or under fallen logs.

The species disappeared due to the introduction of Black Rats (Rattus rattus (L.)), which apparently carried diseases that the endemic rats fell victim to.

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References:

[1] ‘Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London, Printed by order of the Trustees 1900

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Depiction from: ”Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London, Printed by order of the Trustees 1900″

(not in copyright)

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edited: 24.04.2019

Pseudomys sp. ‘Basalt Plains’

Basalt Plains Mouse (Pseudomys sp.)

The The Basalt Plains Mouse has not been formally described yet, despite the fact that this species is known from hundreds of subfossil remains that have been recovered from Arboriginal middens and owl-roost deposits.

The species inhabited the tussock grassland on the basalt plains of western Victoria, Australia, it probably survived into the 19th century but disappeared when its habitat was destroyed due to sheep farming.

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edited: 07.05.2019

Hybomorphus melanosomus Saunders & Jekel

Lord Howe Ground Weevil (Hybomorphus melanosomus)

The Lord Howe Ground Weevil was described in 1855, it was a large, flightless species endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The species appears to have disappeared very quickly after its discovery and description, as can be taken from an account by A. S. Olliff from 1889.:

“A remarkable endemic form. A large number of fragments and dead remains of this species were found by Mr. Masters under logs and in rotten wood during his visit to the island in June, 1869. As far as I am aware, this is the last occasion on which the insect has been found, none of the collectors who have recently visited the island having obtained it.” [1]

The species was apparently eradicated by introduced house mice.

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References:

[1] A. S. Olliff: The insect fauna of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum Memoir 2: 75-98. 1889
[2] Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan Appendices, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney 2007

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Depiction from: ‘W. W. Saunders; H. Jekel: Descriptions de quelques Curculionites. Annales de la Société entomologique de France (3)3: 19-306. 1855’

(public domain)

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edited: 26.04.2022

Ozothamnus selaginoides Sonder & F. Muel.

Clubmoss Everlasting (Ozothamnus selaginoides)  

This species was described in 1853.  

The Clubmoss Everlasting, also known as Table Mountain Daisy Bush, was restricted to the Table Mountain area in the Central Highlands of Tasmania, Australia.  

It was a slender, branching shrub between 0,5 to 1 m tall, the branches were covered with tiny hairs. Its daisy-like flower-heads, consisting of eight to 12 single flowers, appeared in dense clusters at the ends of the branches, they were creamy-yellow.  

The species was not found since 1849 and is believed to be extinct.  

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Depiction from: ‘J. D. Hooker: The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839-1843: under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. London: Reeve Brothers 1844-1860’  

(not in copyright)

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edited: 06.11.2017

Myrmecobius fasciatus ssp. rufus Wood Jones

Rusty Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus ssp. rufus)

The Rusty Numbat, a subspecies of the beautiful and cute Australian Numbat was described in 1923, originally as a distinct species.

The subspecies, which apparently inhabited southern Australia, is said to have differed from the ‚common‘ Numbat by the more reddish fur on its back.

The status of this taxon, however, stills needs to be confirmed, and it may be identical with the nominate race that still exists.

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nominate form

Photo: Luke Durkin

(under freative commons licence (2.0))
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

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edited: 23.11.2018

Cyanoramphus erythrotis (Wagler)

Macquarie Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus erythrotis)  

The Macquarie Island Parakeet once was the southernmost living parrot species in the world, it was endemic to the subantarctic Maquarie Island, a cold, harsh, and rainy island, that today is known especially for its very large penguin colonies.  

The Macquarie Island Parakeet had a similar lifestyle as the Antipodes Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor (Lear)) and Reischek’s Parakeet (Cyanoramphus hochstetteri (Reischek)), which both inhabit the subantarctic Antipodes Islands.  

The Antipodes Islands do not harbor trees, thus the parakeets there life exclusively on the ground, the eggs are laid in abandoned burrows made by seabirds or ‘under the open air’ sheltered by overhanging tussock grass.  

The Macquarie Island Parakeet lived in a similar way, and probably also occasionally killed and fed upon seabird chicks, as does the Antipodes Parakeet (very much like the Kea (Nestor notabilis Gould) in New Zealand’s Southern Alps).  

***

The Macquarie Island Parakeet was long treated as a subspecies of the New Zealand Red-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (Sparrman)), but is now known to have been a distinct species. [3]  

***

Within the 19th century many animals were introduced the Macquarie Island, including cats, mice, rabbits, rats and weka rails, the last-mentioned brought from New Zealand. (As far as I know, all of these introduced species have been eradicated in the meantime!) The mice and especially the rabbits destroyed much of the vegetation, the cats killed the adult parakeets, the rats and the weka rails destroyed the birds’ clutches.  

The last Macquarie Island Parakeets died in the year 1913.  

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References:  

[1] Dieter Luther: Die ausgestorbenen Vögel der Welt. Westarp Wissenschaften 1986 
[2] Errol Fuller: Extinct Birds. Penguin Books (England) 1987 [3] Wee Ming Boon; Jonathan C. Kearvell, Charles H. Daugherty; Geoffrey K. Chambers: ‘Molecular systematics and conservation of kakariki (Cyanoramphus spp.). Science for Conservation 176: 1-46. 2001

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edited: 11.02.2020

Cyanoramphus subflavescens Salvadori

Lord Howe Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus subflavescens)

This species was once endemic to the island of Lord Howe in the Tasman Sea off southeastern Australia, the species was repeatedly classified as a subspecies of either the Norfolk Island – (Cyanoramphus cookii (Gray)) or the New Zealand Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (Sparrman)) but is now finally considered a distinct species.

The bird reached a length of about 27 cm and was otherwise quite similar to the two abovementioned, closely related species.

The human settlers on the island didn’t like the parakeet, they considered them to be a pest to their crops and gardens and thus heavily hunted the parakeets … until the species went finally extinct.

The last two birds, apparently a breeding pair, were seen in 1869.

***

The depiction below shows a pair of this species with the male bird in front – these are the only two specimens of the species known to exist at all!

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Depiction from: Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum. London 20. 1891

(public domain)

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edited: 27.11.2018

Ptilotus caespitulosus F. Muell.

Salt Lake Mulla-Mulla (Ptilotus caespitulosus)  

This species, which always was found growing around salt lakes, is considered extinct, after a collection from the year 1987, assigned to this species, was identified in the year 2000 as representing a distinct species, Fitzgerald’s Mulla-Mulla (Ptilotus fasciculatus W. Fitzg.).

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edited: 04.01.2011