Mammoths and saber-toothed tigers are the animals that usually come to mind when talking about extinct mammals. However, there are over 100 species that have been eradicated from the face of the earth more recently. Animals that have gone extinct in the past 500 years are considered ‘recently extinct’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Animals that have not been seen in at least 50 years are considered to have gone extinct. Here is a list of mammals with their last recorded sighting dates over 20-30 years back. So, though they are yet to be officially recognized as ‘extinct’, there is little hope of finding any living population.
What is the largest extinct prehistoric mammal to ever have lived?
The Paraceratherium, a prehistoric genus from the Rhinocerotoids superfamily (which contains today’s rhinoceroses), is believed to be the largest land mammal ever to have walked the earth. Other gigantic prehistoric mammals include the elephant-like steppe mammoth, woolly mammoth, and the giant ground sloth. The Elasmotherium sibiricum, a giant horned rhinoceros, informally known as the ‘Giant Siberian Unicorn’ is another well-known gigantic prehistoric animal.
What are some extinct marine mammals?
The Caribbean monk seal and Japanese Sea Lion are two recently extinct marine mammals. Another mammal that should be mentioned is the baiji, a freshwater dolphin from China that has possibly gone extinct.
