June 21, 2023, 8:48 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Dinosaurs are undoubtedly extinct, but many modern animal species are also threatened with extinction or have already been wiped out due to human influence. But when exactly is a species considered extinct?
The extinction of animal and plant species has often been a natural process in Earth’s history. Some animals are better adapted to their environment than others, or sudden climate changes have favored the survival of a species while others suffered so much that they eventually became extinct. Sixty-six million years ago, the climate changed so drastically in a relatively short time that about 75 percent of all animal and plant species became extinct, including the most famous example of extinct animal species: the dinosaurs.
Nowadays, it is primarily humans and their interference with nature that have the greatest impact on the animal and plant world. Some animal species have already become extinct because they were massively hunted or their habitat was destroyed. Currently, 20,000 animal and plant species are on the brink of extinction. But between the status “endangered” and “extinct,” there are a few intermediate stages.
“Endangered”
Animal and plant species with this status are severely threatened, either by massive hunting, the impacts of climate change, or the shrinking, vital habitat destroyed by human agriculture or urban development—or all of these factors combined. A prominent example is the orangutan in Sumatra. Its population continues to decline, even though environmental protection organizations have implemented protective measures. These include educating the population and protecting against poachers, as the apes are hunted or killed in the fields of locals when they search for food.
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“Extinct in the Wild”
Animals with this status are no longer found in their natural habitat. They are not completely gone but only live in captivity. This includes species-preserving protection programs or zoos and wildlife parks. From these populations, breeding programs can initiate reintroduction efforts.
“Regionally Extinct”
This status refers to species that are no longer found in parts of their original range but still occur in other areas. An example is the wolf, which was considered extinct in large parts of Germany but was still present in other parts of Europe. Through protection programs, some wolf packs have now spread again in Germany.
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“Functionally Extinct”
When a species receives this status, it means that it is so threatened and diminished that it can no longer fulfill its role in the ecosystem. An example is the reef shark, an important predator in waters. Its prey and it are in a reciprocal relationship. If one component is lost, it strongly affects the other and can lead to overpopulation of the prey, for instance.
“Extinct”
This title is given to species that are not found anywhere in the wild or in captivity worldwide. They are thus wiped out and considered lost. Even if individual specimens still exist, like the northern white rhinoceros: the two females Najin and Fatu.
“Lazarus Species”
According to biblical tradition, Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus and came back to life after his death. Thus, the status “Lazarus species” refers to species that were already considered extinct but then reappeared either by chance or after targeted searches. They are then considered “endangered” again. This often happens with species that live in hard-to-reach areas such as high mountains, the deep sea, or dense rainforests.
In addition to these designations for the occurrence of an animal or plant species, there are also species that are already considered “endangered” even though they were only recently discovered. Often, the habitat is so severely destroyed by humans that there are only a few specimens of this species left, which have so far remained well hidden. This includes, for example, a glass frog species in Ecuador, which is extremely rare and was only discovered by researchers a few years ago.
The Iberian lynx is no longer threatened with extinction
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Sources:
- nationalgeographic.de, “When is a species considered “extinct”?” (accessed on 06/20/2023)
- wwf.de, “Orangutans: The endangered apes with red fur” (accessed on 06/20/2023)
- n-tv.de, “Reef sharks are “functionally extinct”” (accessed on 06/20/2023)
- nationalgeographic.de, “Creatures like crystal” (accessed on 06/20/2023)