Buzz
We are constantly overwhelmed by distressing news about species disappearing, with the public urged to stop it, a task often beyond the reach of most. To shift the focus, here’s a more optimistic take on the top 10 animals that were once believed to be extinct but are very much still with us!
10. New Holland Mouse
The New Holland Mouse, a rodent first documented in 1843, seemed to vanish and was presumed extinct until its rediscovery in 1967. Native only to Australia, it is now listed as endangered. Some populations have unfortunately been lost, with certain extinctions attributed to the Ash Wednesday Wildfires in 1983.
9. Terror Skink
The terror skink (Phoboscincus bocourti) was believed to be extinct until a specimen was found in 2003 in New Caledonia. This skink, measuring about 50cm, has long, sharply curved teeth—a rare trait for a species that is typically omnivorous. The only other known example was found in New Caledonia in 1876.
8. Giant Palouse Earthworm
The Giant Palouse Earthworm, native to North America, was believed to have been extinct by the 1980s, but it has recently made a return. Very little is known about this mysterious worm, but what is known is quite peculiar. It can grow up to 3 feet in length and, when handled, emits a scent similar to lilies. The creature is also believed to be capable of spitting for defense and has an albino appearance.
7. Takahe
The Takahe, a flightless bird from New Zealand’s South Island, was thought to have been wiped out after the last four individuals were captured in 1898. However, following an extensive search, the bird was rediscovered near Lake Te Anau in 1948. Although currently endangered, the Takahe has an unusual feeding habit, using its beak to pluck grass and grasp it with one claw, eating only the softest portion at the base of the leaf and discarding the rest.
6. Mountain Pygmy Possum
The Mountain Pygmy Possum was first identified as a Pleistocene fossil in 1896, but it was rediscovered alive in 1966 in a ski hut on Mount Hotham, Australia. This mouse-sized possum inhabits dense alpine rocks and boulders. Female possums live at the mountain's peak, while the males reside lower down. During mating season, the males travel uphill to the females. To protect them, an Australian government-built “tunnel of love” was constructed beneath a road they needed to cross, ensuring their survival.
5. Gracilidris
Gracilidris is a genus of nocturnal ants, previously known only from fossils. In fact, the only known fossil of this ant is a specimen preserved in amber. The ants were discovered alive in 2006, but there is still much to learn about them. These ants form small colonies and nest in soil.
4. Bermuda Petrel
The Bermuda Petrel, a nocturnal seabird that nests on the ground, was believed to have been extinct for 330 years. It is Bermuda's national bird and was rediscovered in 1951 when 18 pairs were found. The bird was thought to have disappeared after the English colonized Bermuda and introduced predators like cats, rats, and dogs. The Bermuda Petrel has a haunting call, which led Spanish sailors to believe the islands were haunted by devils, and so they avoided settling there.
3. The Coelacanth
This entry takes the top spot for being the coolest – the Coelacanth was believed to have gone extinct at the close of the Cretaceous period. However, in 1938, it was rediscovered off the coasts of several African nations, earning it the title of Lazarus Taxon – an organism that vanishes from the fossil record, only to reappear later. Coelacanths first emerged in the fossil record over 410 million years ago. Typically, they inhabit the deep ocean floor, though some have occasionally been caught nearer to the surface. They can grow over fifteen feet in length, yet despite their size, no records exist of any attacks on humans, as they dwell so deep.
2. La Palma Giant Lizard
The La Palma Giant Lizard was believed to be extinct since the 1500s. Native to La Palma in the Canary Islands, it is thought that the introduction of cats led to its eventual extinction. However, in 2007, it was rediscovered in its original habitat, defying the belief that the only lizards left in the Canary Islands were on Gran Canaria. Interestingly, the islands are named after dogs, not canaries – their name derives from the Latin 'Insula Canaria', meaning 'Island of the Dogs'. Canary birds, in turn, were named after the islands.
1. Laotian Rock Rat
The Laotian Rock Rat, also referred to as the rat squirrel, was first identified in 2005 by a scientist who placed it into its own family, Laonastidae. However, a year later, some researchers contested this classification, proposing that the rock rat might actually belong to the extinct family Diatomyidae, which disappeared during the late Miocene period. The animals resemble large, dark rats with tails similar to squirrels. Remarkably, the first specimens were found being sold as meat at a market in Laos.
