Tag Archives: Christmas Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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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]

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

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edited: 12.08.2022

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.

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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