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Following is a complete list of Australian vertebrate extinctions from 1788 to the present. There are 23 birds, 4 frogs, and 27 mammal species known to have become extinct since European settlement of Australia. It is worth making special mention of the three great human-introduced killer species: the European rabbit, the European Red Fox, and the domestic cat. Although many other introduced species have played a destructive role, so far these three have been far and away the most significant.
Extinctions are recorded under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
[edit] Extinct Australian vertebrates: 1788 to present:
| Species |
Common Name |
Location(s) |
Comments |
| Aplonis fusca |
Norfolk Starling |
Norfolk Island, NSW |
1923. Competition from introduced European starling, song thrush and common blackbird, clearance for agriculture. |
| Columba vitiensis godmanae |
White-throated Pigeon (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Pigeon |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae erythrotis |
Red-crowned Parakeet (Macquarie Island), Macquarie Island Parakeet |
Macquarie Island |
|
| Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens |
Red-crowned Parakeet (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Parakeet |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Dasyornis broadbenti litoralis |
Rufous Bristlebird (western), South-western Rufous Bristlebird |
WA |
|
| Dromaius ater |
Dwarf Emu, King Island Emu |
TAS |
1827 |
| Dromaius baudinianus |
Kangaroo Island Emu |
Kangaroo Island |
1805 |
| Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis |
Emu (Tasmanian) |
TAS |
1850 |
| Drymodes superciliaris colcloughi |
Roper River Scrub-robin |
NT |
|
| Gerygone insularis |
Lord Howe Gerygone, Lord Howe Warbler |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea |
New Zealand Pigeon (Norfolk Island race) |
Norfolk Island |
|
| Lalage leucopyga leucopyga |
Norfolk Island Long-tailed Triller |
Norfolk Island |
|
| Nestor productus |
Norfolk Island Kaka |
Norfolk Island |
|
| Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria |
Southern Boobook (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe Boobook Owl |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Porphyrios alba |
White Gallinule |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Psephotus pulcherrimus |
Paradise Parrot |
NSW, QLD |
Date uncertain around 1927; more recent sightings are sometimes claimed but have never been confirmed. Cause uncertain, most hypotheses centre on starvation from lack of grass seed after drought, overgrazing, more frequent fires, and introduction of prickly pear. |
| Rallus pectoralis clelandi |
Lewin's Water Rail (western) |
WA |
|
| Rallus philippensis maquariensis |
Macquarie Island Rail |
Macquarie Island |
|
| Rhipidura cervina |
Lord Howe Fantail |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus |
Grey-headed Blackbird, Norfolk Island Thrush |
Norfolk Island |
|
| Turdus xanthopus vinitinctus |
Lord Howe Vinous-tinted Thrush |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Zosterops albogularis |
White-chested White-eye, Norfolk Island Silvereye |
Norfolk Island |
|
| Zosterops strenuus |
|
Lord Howe Island |
Early 1920s. Predation by Rattus rattus |
[edit] Amphibians
The reason for the decline and extinction of these frog species is unclear, decline in frog populations is an international phenomenon.
| Species |
Common Name |
Location(s) |
Comments |
| Rheobatrachus silus |
Gastric-brooding Frog |
QLD |
Last wild specimen recorded in 1981 |
| Rheobatrachus vitellinus |
Eungella Gastric-brooding Frog |
QLD |
Last wild specimen recorded in 1985 |
| Taudactylus acutirostris |
Sharp-snouted Day Frog, Sharp-snouted Torrent Frog |
QLD |
Last wild specimen recorded in 1997 |
| Taudactylus diurnus |
Southern Day Frog, Mt Glorious Torrent Frog |
QLD |
Last wild specimen recorded in 1979 |
[edit] Mammals
| Species |
Common Name |
Location(s) |
Comments |
| Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi |
Eastern Bettong (mainland) |
NSW, QLD, SA, VIC |
|
| Bettongia lesueur graii |
Boodie, Burrowing Bettong (inland) |
WA |
|
| Bettongia penicillata penicillata |
Brush-tailed Bettong (south-east mainland) |
NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA |
|
| Caloprymnus campestris |
Desert Rat-kangaroo |
QLD, SA |
|
| Chaeropus ecaudatus |
Pig-footed Bandicoot |
NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA |
1950s |
| Conilurus albipes |
White-footed Rabbit-rat |
NSW, QLD, SA, VIC |
|
| Lagorchestes asomatus |
Central Hare-wallaby |
NT |
1935 |
| Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus |
Rufous Hare-wallaby (south-west mainland) |
NT, SA, WA |
|
| Lagorchestes leporides |
Eastern Hare-wallaby |
NSW, QLD, SA, VIC |
1890 |
| Lagostrophus fasciatus albipilis |
Banded Hare-wallaby (mainland) |
WA |
|
| Leporillus apicalis |
Lesser Stick-nest Rat |
NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA |
1933 |
| Macropus eugenii eugenii |
Tammar Wallaby (South Australia) |
SA |
|
| Macropus greyi |
Toolache Wallaby |
SA, VIC |
1932 |
| Macrotis leucura |
Lesser Bilby |
NT, QLD, SA |
1931 |
| Notomys amplus |
Short-tailed Hopping-mouse |
NT, SA |
1896 |
| Notomys longicaudatus |
Long-tailed Hopping-mouse |
NT, SA, WA |
|
| Notomys macrotis |
Big-eared Hopping-mouse |
WA |
1843 |
| Notomys mordax |
Darling Downs Hopping-mouse |
NSW, QLD |
1846 |
| Nyctophilus howensis |
Lord Howe Long-eared Bat |
Lord Howe Island |
|
| Onychogalea lunata |
Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby |
SA, WA |
|
| Perameles bougainville fasciata |
Western Barred Bandicoot (mainland) |
NSW, VIC |
|
| Perameles eremiana |
Desert Bandicoot |
NT, SA, WA |
|
| Potorous platyops |
Broad-faced Potoroo |
WA |
1865 |
| Pseudomys gouldii |
Gould's Mouse |
NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, WA |
|
| Rattus macleari |
Maclear's Rat |
Christmas Island |
1908 |
| Rattus nativitatis |
Bulldog Rat |
Christmas Island |
|
| Thylacinus cynocephalus |
Thylacine, Tasmanian Tiger |
TAS |
1986 |
[edit] See also
[edit] Reference
