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Megafauna describes large animal species, typically those weighing over 44 kilograms (about 97 pounds)
It include mammoths, mastodons, giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, and others.

Extinctions have occurred at various times throughout Earth’s history, but the most significant and well-studied wave happened at the end of the pleistocene epoch. When many of these megafauna dissapeared

Rapid climatic shifts, such as those at the end of this last period. Caused significant changes in habitats, and food sources. There was also the arrival of humans
There arrival and spread of humans, led to over hunting and habitat disruption.

Most scientists believe a combination of climate change; and, human activities caused these extinctions
Other factors like disease, and competition with other species, would have contributed too. It had a profound effect. In predator/prey lifecycles; their vegetation, and nutrients.

The quaternary period spans from 2.58 million years ago to present
The pleistocene lasted from then, to around 11,700 years ago. It ended with this significant wave of megafauna, and species extinctions.

The pleistocene was followed by the holocene
And, continued into the neolithic, copper, bronze and iron ages. To present.

-Africa experienced some megafauna extinctions, like giant bisons. Though they retained more of their large animals. Compared to the Americas and Australia;
-Asia saw loses of tapirs, giant musk-ox, some horse, hippo species and others;
-Europe experienced the loss of cave bear, woolly rhino and other species;
-North America experienced lost species like mammoths, mastodons; saber-toothed cats; glyptotheriums; american lion; giant beaver; jaguar; and, others;
-South America: Experienced the extinction of giant ground sloths, glyptodonts, and other large species; and,
-Australia saw the loss of giant marsupials. Such as Diprotodon, and large reptiles like Megalania.

Understanding megafauna and species extinction(s); and, the quaternary extinction event, and, its causes. Helps us gain insights into our past, and present biodiversity challenges. It informs us conservation efforts that maybe necessary. And, for one day, if these megafauna are brought back.

Late Pleistocene extinctions

1) Africa:
Ungulates\
Even-Toed Ungulates\
Suidae (swine)\
Metridiochoerus (ssp.)\
Kolpochoerus (ssp.)\
Bovidae (bovines, antelope)\
Giant buffalo (Syncerus antiquus)\
Megalotragus\
Rusingoryx\
Southern springbok (Antidorcas australis)\
Bond’s springbok (Antidorcas bondi)\
Damaliscus hypsodon\
Damaliscus niro\
Atlantic gazelle (Gazella atlantica)\
Gazella tingitana\
Caprinae\
Makapania?\
Cervidae (deer)\
Megaceroides algericus (North Africa)\
Odd-toed Ungulates\
Rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae).\
Narrow-nosed rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus hemitoechus, North Africa)\
Ceratotherium mauritanicum\
Wild Equus spp.\
Caballine horses\
Equus algericus (North Africa)\
Subgenus Asinus (asses)\
Equus melkiensis (North Africa)\
Zebras\
Giant zebra (Equus capensis)\
Saharan zebra (Equus mauritanicus)\
Proboscidea\
Elephantidae (elephants)\
Palaeoloxodon iolensis? (other authors suggest that this taxon went extinct at the end of the Middle Pleistocene)\
Rodentia\
Paraethomys filfilae?\

2) South Asia; and, SE Asia
Ungulates\
Even-Toed Ungulates\
Several Bovidae spp.\
Bos palaesondaicus (ancestor to the banteng)\
Cebu tamaraw (Bubalus cebuensis)\
Bubalus grovesi
Short-horned water buffalo (Bubalus mephistopheles)\
Bubalus palaeokerabau\
Hippopotamidae\
Hexaprotodon (Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia)
Odd-toed Ungulates\
Equus spp.\
Equus namadicus (Indian subcontinent)\
Yunnan horse (Equus yunanensis)\
Giant tapir (Tapirus augustus, Southeast Asia and Southern China)\
Taprus sinensis\
Pholidota\
Giant Asian pangolin (Manis palaeojavanica)\
Carnivora\
Caniformia\
Arctoidea\
Bears\
Ailuropoda baconi (ancestor to the giant panda)\
Afrotheria\
Afroinsectiphilia\
Orycteropodidae/Tubulidentata\
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer; extirpated in South Asia circa 13,000 BCE)
Paenungulata\
Tethytheria\
Proboscideans\
Stegodontidae\
Stegodon spp. (including Stegodon florensis on Flores, Stegodon orientalis in East and Southeast Asia, and Stegodon sp. in the Indian subcontinent)\
Elephantidae\
Palaeoloxodon spp.\
Palaeoloxodon namadicus (Indian subcontinent, possibly also Southeast Asia)\
Birds\
Japanese flightless duck (Shiriyanetta hasegawai)
Leptoptilos robustus\
Reptiles\
Crocodilia\
Alligator munensis?\
Testudines (turtles and tortoises)\
Manouria oyamai\
Primates\
Several simian (Simiiformes) spp.\
Pongo (orangutans)\
Pongo weidenreichi (South China)\
Various Homo spp. (archaic humans)\
Homo erectus soloensis (Java)\
Homo floresiensis (Flores)\
Homo luzonensis (Luzon, Philippines)\
Denisovans (Homo sp.)\

3) Europe, Northen, and East Asia
Ungulates\
Even-Toed Hoofed Mammals\
Various Bovidae spp.\
Steppe bison (Bison priscus)\
Baikal yak (Bos baikalensis)\
European water buffalo (Bubalus murrensis)\
European tahr (Hemitragus cedrensis)\
Giant muskox (Praeovibos priscus)\
Northern saiga antelope (Saiga borealis)\
Twisted-horned antelope (Spirocerus kiakhtensis)\
Goat-horned antelope (Parabubalis capricornis)\
Bubalus wansijocki (extinct buffalo native to North China)\
Various deer (Cervidae) spp.\
Giant deer/Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus)\
Cretan deer (Candiacervus spp.)\
Haploidoceros mediterraneus\
Sinomegaceros spp. (including Sinomegaceros yabei in Japan, and Sinomegaceros ordosianus and possibly Sinomegaceros pachyosteus in China).\
Dwarf Ryuku deer (Cervus astylodon)\
All native Hippopotamus spp.\
Hippopotamus amphibius (European range, still extant in Africa)\
Maltese dwarf hippopotamus (Hippopotamus melitensis)\
Cyprus dwarf hippopotamus (Hippopotamus minor)\
Sicilian dwarf hippopotamus (Hippopotamus pentlandi)\
Camelus knoblochi and other Camelus spp.\
Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals\
Various Equus spp. e.g.\
Various wild horse subspecies (e.g. Equus c. gallicus, Equus c. latipes, Equus c. uralensis)\
Equus dalianensis (wild horse species known from North China)\
European wild ass (Equus hydruntinus) (survived in refugia in Anatolia until late Holocene)\
Equus ovodovi (survived in refugia in North China until late Holocene)\
All native Rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae) spp.\
Elasmotherium\
Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis)\
Stephanorhinus spp.\
Merck’s rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis)\
Narrow-nosed rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus hemiotoechus)\
Carnivora\
Caniformia\
Canidae\
Caninae\
Wolves\
Cave wolf (Canis lupus spelaeus)\
Dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus)\
Dholes\
European dhole (Cuon alpinus europaeus)\
Sardinian dhole (Cynotherium sardous)\
Arctoidea\
Various Ursus spp.\
Steppe brown bear (Ursus arctos “priscus”)\
Gamssulzen cave bear (Ursus ingressus)\
Pleistocene small cave bear (Ursus rossicus)\
Cave bear (Ursus spelaeus)\
Giant polar bear (Ursus maritimus tyrannus)\
Musteloidea\
Mustelidae\
Several otter (Lutrinae) spp.\
Robust Pleistocene European otter (Cyrnaonyx)\
Algarolutra\
Sardinian giant otter (Megalenhydris barbaricina)\
Sardinian dwarf otter (Sardolutra)\
Cretan otter (Lutrogale cretensis)\
Feliformia\
Various Felidae (cats) spp.\
Homotherium latidens (sometimes called the scimitar-toothed cat)\
Cave lynx (Lynx pardinus spelaeus)[46]\
Issoire lynx (Lynx issiodorensis)\
Panthera spp.\
Cave lion (Panthera spelaea)\
European ice age leopard (Panthera pardus spelaea)\
Hyaenidae (hyenas)\
Cave hyena (Crocuta crocuta spelaea and Crocuta crocuta ultima)\
“Hyaena” prisca\
All native Elephant (Elephantidae) spp.\
Mammoths\
Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)\
Dwarf Sardinian mammoth (Mammuthus lamarmorai)\
Straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) (Europe)\
Palaeoloxodon naumanni (Japan, possibly also Korea and northern China)\
Palaeoloxodon huaihoensis (China)\
Dwarf elephant\
Palaeoloxodon creutzburgi (Crete)\
Cyprus dwarf elephant (Palaeoloxodon cypriotes)\
Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis (Sicily)\
Rodents\
Allocricetus bursae\
Cricetus major (alternatively Cricetus cricetus major)\
Dicrostonyx gulielmi (ancestor to the Arctic lemming)\
Giant Eurasian porcupine (Hystrix refossa)\
Leithia spp. (Maltese and Sicilian giant dormouse)\
Marmota paleocaucasica\
Microtus grafi\
Mimomys spp.\
M. pyrenaicus\
M. chandolensis\
Pliomys lenki\
Spermophilus citelloides\
Spermophilus severskensis\
Spermophilus superciliosus\
Trogontherium cuvieri (large beaver)\
Lagomorpha\
Lepus tanaiticus (alternatively Lepus timidus tanaiticus)\
Pika (Ochotona) spp. e.g.\
Giant pika (Ochotona whartoni)\
Tonomochota spp.\
T. khasanensis\
T. sikhotana\
T. major\
Birds\
Asian ostrich (Struthio asiaticus)\
Yakutian goose (Anser djuktaiensis)\
Various European crane spp. (Genus Grus)\
Grus primigenia\
Grus melitensis\
Cretan owl (Athene cretensis)\
Primates\
Homo\
Denisovans (Homo sp.)\
Neanderthals (Homo (sapiens) neanderthalensis; survived until about 40,000 years ago on the Iberian peninsula)\
Reptiles\
Solitudo sicula; survived in Sicily until about 12,500 years ago.\
Lacerta siculimelitensis; from Malta.\

4) North America
Ungulates\
Even-Toed Hoofed Mammals\
Various Bovidae spp.\
Most forms of Pleistocene bison (only Bison bison in North America, and Bison bonasus in Eurasia, survived)\
Ancient bison (Bison antiquus) (H)\
Long-horned/Giant bison (Bison latifrons) (H)\
Steppe bison (Bison priscus) (H)\
Bison occidentalis (H)\
Several members of Caprinae (the muskox survived)\
Giant muskox (Praeovibos priscus) (H)\
Shrub-ox (Euceratherium collinum) (H)\
Harlan’s muskox (Bootherium bombifrons) (H)\
Soergel’s ox (Soergelia mayfieldi) (H)\
Harrington’s mountain goat (Oreamnos harringtoni; smaller and more southern distribution than its surviving relative) (H)\
Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica; extirpated) (H)\
Deer\
Stag-moose (Cervalces scotti) (H)\
American mountain deer (Odocoileus lucasi) (H)\
Torontoceros hypnogeos (H)\
Various Antilocapridae genera (pronghorns survived)\
Capromeryx (H)\
Stockoceros (H)\
Tetrameryx (H)\
Pacific pronghorn (Antilocapra pacifica) (H)\
Several peccary (Tayassuidae) spp.\
Flat-headed peccary (Platygonus) (H)\
Long-nosed peccary (Mylohyus) (H)\
Collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu; extirpated, range semi-recolonised) (H) (Muknalia minimus is a junior synonym)\
Various members of Camelidae\
Western camel (Camelops hesternus) (H)\
Stilt legged llamas (Hemiauchenia ssp.) (H)\
Stout legged llamas (Palaeolama ssp.) (H)\
Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals\
All native forms of Equidae\
Caballine true horses (Equus cf. ferus) from the Late Pleistocene of North America have historically been assigned to many different species, including Equus fraternus, Equus scotti and Equus lambei, but the taxonomy of these horses is unclear, and many of these species may be synonymous with each other, perhaps only representing a single species.\
Stilt-legged horse (Haringtonhippus francisci / Equus francisci; (H)\
Tapirs (Tapirus; three species)\
California tapir (Tapirus californicus) (H)\
Merriam’s tapir (Tapirus merriami) (H)\
Vero tapir (Tapirus veroensis) (H)\
\’86Order Notoungulata\
Mixotoxodon (H)\
Carnivora\
Feliformia\
Several Felidae spp.\
Sabertooths (\Machairodontinae)\
Smilodon fatalis (sabertooth cat) (C)\
Homotherium serum scimitar-toothed cat (C)\
American cheetah (Miracinonyx trumani ; not true cheetah)\
Cougar (Puma concolor; megafaunal ecomorph extirpated from North America, South American populations recolonised former range) (C)\
Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi; extirpated, range semi-recolonised) (C)\
Margay (Leopardus weidii; extirpated) (C)\
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis; extirpated, range marginally recolonised) (C)\
Jaguars\
Pleistocene North American jaguar (Panthera onca augusta; range semi-recolonised by other subspecies) (C)\
North America Jaguar\
Panthera balamoides (dubious, suggested to be a junior synonym of the short faced bear Arctotherium)\
Lions\
American lion (Panthera atrox) (C)\
Cave lion (Panthera spelaea; present only in Alaska and Yukon) (C)\
Caniformia\
Canidae\
Dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) (C)\
Pleistocene coyote (Canis latrans orcutti) (C)\
Megafaunal wolf e.g.\
Beringian wolf (Canis lupus ssp.) (C)\
Dhole (Cuon alpinus; extirpated) (C)\
Protocyon troglodytes (C)\
Arctoidea\
Musteloidea\
Mephitidae\
Short-faced skunk (Brachyprotoma obtusata) (C)\
Mustelidae\
Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii; extirpated) (C)\
Various bear (Ursidae) spp.\
Arctodus simus (C)\
Florida spectacled bear (Tremarctos floridanus) (C)\
South American short-faced bear (Arctotherium wingei) (C)\
Giant polar bear (Ursus maritimus tyrannus; a possible inhabitant) (C)\
Afrotheria\
Paenungulata\
Tethytheria\
All native spp. of Proboscidea\
Mastodons\
American mastodon (Mammut americanum) (H)\
Pacific mastodon (Mammut pacificus) (H) (validity uncertain)\
Gomphotheriidae spp.\
Cuvieronius (H)\
Mammoth (Mammuthus) spp.\
Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) (H)\
Pygmy mammoth (Mammuthus exilis) (H)\
Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) (H)\
Sirenia\
Dugongidae\
Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas; extirpated from North America, survived in Beringia into 18th century) (H)\
Euarchontoglires\
Bats\
Stock’s vampire bat (Desmodus stocki) (C)\
Pristine mustached bat (Pteronotus (Phyllodia) pristinus) (C)\
Rodents\
Giant beaver (Castoroides) spp.\
Castoroides ohioensis (H)\
Castoroides leiseyorum (H)\
Klein’s porcupine (Erethizon kleini) (H)\
Giant island deer mouse (Peromyscus nesodytes) (C)\
Neochoerus spp. e.g.\
Pinckney’s capybara (Neochoerus pinckneyi) (H)\
Neochoerus aesopi (H)\
Neotoma findleyi\
Neotoma pygmaea\
Synaptomys australis\
All giant hutia (Heptaxodontidae) spp.\
Blunt-toothed giant hutia (Amblyrhiza inundata; could grow as large as an American black bear) (H)\
Plate-toothed giant hutia (Elasmodontomys obliquus) (H)\
Twisted-toothed mouse (Quemisia gravis) (H)\
Osborn’s key mouse (Clidomys osborn’s) (H)\
Xaymaca fulvopulvis (H)\
Lagomorphs\
Aztlan rabbit (Aztlanolagus sp.) (H)\
Giant pika (Ochotona whartoni) (H)\
Eulipotyphla\
Notiosorex dalquesti\
Notiosorex harrisi\
Xenarthra\
Pilosa\
Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla; extirpated, range partially recolonised) (C)\
All remaining ground sloth spp.\
Eremotherium (megatheriid giant ground sloth) (H)\
Nothrotheriops (nothrotheriid ground sloth) (H)\
Megalonychid ground sloth spp.\
Megalonyx (H)\
Nohochichak (H)\
Xibalbaonyx (H)\
Meizonyx\
Mylodontid ground sloth spp.\
Paramylodon (H)\
Cingulata\
All members of Glyptodontinae\
Glyptotherium (H)\
Beautiful armadillo (Dasypus bellus) (H)\
Pachyarmatherium\
All Pampatheriidae spp.\
Holmesina (H)\
Pampatherium (H)\
Birds\
Water Fowl\
Ducks\
Bermuda flightless duck (Anas pachyscelus) (H)\
Californian flightless sea duck (Chendytes lawi) (C)\
Mexican stiff-tailed duck (Oxyura zapatima) (H)\
Neochen barbadiana (H)\
Turkey (Meleagris) spp.\
Californian turkey (Meleagris californica) (H)\
Meleagris crassipes (H)\
Various Gruiformes spp.\
All cave rail (Nesotrochis) spp. e.g.\
Antillean cave rail (Nesotrochis debooyi) (C)\
Barbados rail (Incertae sedis) (C)\
Cuban flightless crane (Antigone cubensis) (H)\
La Brea crane (Grus pagei) (H)\
Various flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) spp.\
Minute flamingo (Phoenicopterus minutus) (C)\
Cope’s flamingo (Phoenicopterus copei) (C)\
Dow’s puffin (Fratercula dowi) (C)\
Pleistocene Mexican diver spp.\
Plyolimbus baryosteus (C)\
Podiceps spp.\
Podiceps parvus (C)\
Storks\
La Brea/Asphalt stork (Ciconia maltha) (C)\
Wetmore’s stork (Mycteria wetmorei) (C)\
Pleistocene Mexican cormorants spp. (genus Phalacrocorax)\
Phalacrocorax goletensis (C)\
Phalacrocorax chapalensis (C)\
All remaining teratorn (Teratornithidae) spp.\
Aiolornis incredibilis (C)\
Cathartornis gracilis (C)\
Oscaravis olsoni (C)\
Teratornis merriami (C)\
Teratornis woodburnensis (C)\
Several New World vultures (Cathartidae) spp.\
Pleistocene black vulture (Coragyps occidentalis ssp.) (C)\
Megafaunal Californian condor (Gymnogyps amplus) (C)\
Clark’s condor (Breagyps clarki) (C)\
Cuban condor (Gymnogyps varonai) (C)\
Several Accipitridae spp.\
American neophrone vulture (Neophrontops americanus) (C)\
Woodward’s eagle (Amplibuteo woodwardi) (C)\
Cuban great hawk (Buteogallus borrasi) (C)\
Daggett’s eagle (Buteogallus daggetti) (C)\
Fragile eagle (Buteogallus fragilis) (C)\
Cuban giant hawk (Gigantohierax suarezi) (C)\
Errant eagle (Neogyps errans) (C)\
Grinnell’s crested eagle (Spizaetus grinnelli) (C)\
Willett’s hawk-eagle (Spizaetus willetti)57\
Caribbean titan hawk (Titanohierax) (C)\
Several owl (Strigiformes) spp.\
Brea miniature owl (Asphaltoglaux) (C)\
Kurochkin’s pygmy owl (Glaucidium kurochkini) (C)\
Brea owl (Oraristix brea) (C)\
Cuban giant owl (Ornimegalonyx) (C)\
Bermuda flicker (Colaptes oceanicus) (C)\
Several caracara (Caracarinae) spp.\
Bahaman terrestrial caracara (Caracara sp.) (C)\
Puerto Rican terrestrial caracara (Caracara sp.) (C)\
Jamaican caracara (Carcara tellustris) (C)\
Cuban caracara (Milvago sp.) (C)\
Hispaniolan caracara (Milvago sp.) (C)\
Psittacopasserae\
Psittaciformes\
Mexican thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta phillipsi) (H)\
Several giant tortoise spp.\
Hesperotestudo (H)\
Gopherus spp.\
Gopherus donlaloi (H)\
Chelonoidis spp.\
Chelonoidis marcanoi (H)\
Chelonoidis alburyorum (H)\

5) South America
Ungulates\
Even-Toed Hoofed Mammals\
Various Bovidae spp.\
Most forms of Pleistocene bison (only Bison bison in North America, and Bison bonasus in Eurasia, survived)\
Ancient bison (Bison antiquus) (H)\
Long-horned/Giant bison (Bison latifrons) (H)\
Steppe bison (Bison priscus) (H)\
Bison occidentalis (H)\
Several members of Caprinae (the muskox survived)\
Giant muskox (Praeovibos priscus) (H)\
Shrub-ox (Euceratherium collinum) (H)\
Harlan’s muskox (Bootherium bombifrons) (H)\
Soergel’s ox (Soergelia mayfieldi) (H)\
Harrington’s mountain goat (Oreamnos harringtoni; smaller and more southern distribution than its surviving relative) (H)\
Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica; extirpated) (H)\
Deer\
Stag-moose (Cervalces scotti) (H)\
American mountain deer (Odocoileus lucasi) (H)\
Torontoceros hypnogeos (H)\
Various Antilocapridae genera (pronghorns survived)\
Capromeryx (H)\
Stockoceros (H)\
Tetrameryx (H)\
Pacific pronghorn (Antilocapra pacifica) (H)\
Several peccary (Tayassuidae) spp.\
Flat-headed peccary (Platygonus) (H)\
Long-nosed peccary (Mylohyus) (H)\
Collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu; extirpated, range semi-recolonised) (H) (Muknalia minimus is a junior synonym)\
Various members of Camelidae\
Western camel (Camelops hesternus) (H)\
Stilt legged llamas (Hemiauchenia ssp.) (H)\
Stout legged llamas (Palaeolama ssp.) (H)\
Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals\
All native forms of Equidae\
Caballine true horses (Equus cf. ferus) from the Late Pleistocene of North America have historically been assigned to many different species, including Equus fraternus, Equus scotti and Equus lambei, but the taxonomy of these horses is unclear, and many of these species may be synonymous with each other, perhaps only representing a single species.\
Stilt-legged horse (Haringtonhippus francisci / Equus francisci; (H)\
Tapirs (Tapirus; three species)\
California tapir (Tapirus californicus) (H)\
Merriam’s tapir (Tapirus merriami) (H)\
Vero tapir (Tapirus veroensis) (H)\
\Order Notoungulata\
Mixotoxodon(H)\
Carnivora\
Feliformia\
Several Felidae spp.\
Sabertooths (\Machairodontinae)\
Smilodon fatalis (sabertooth cat) (C)\
Homotherium serum scimitar-toothed cat (C)\
American cheetah (Miracinonyx trumani ; not true cheetah)\
Cougar (Puma concolor; megafaunal ecomorph extirpated from North America, South American populations recolonised former range) (C)\
Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi; extirpated, range semi-recolonised) (C)\
Margay (Leopardus weidii; extirpated) (C)\
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis; extirpated, range marginally recolonised) (C)\
Jaguars\
Pleistocene North American jaguar (Panthera onca augusta; range semi-recolonised by other subspecies) (C)\
North America Jaguar\
Panthera balamoides (dubious, suggested to be a junior synonym of the short faced bear Arctotherium)\
Lions\
American lion (Panthera atrox) (C)\
Cave lion (Panthera spelaea; present only in Alaska and Yukon) (C)\
Caniformia\
Canidae\
Dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) (C)\
Pleistocene coyote (Canis latrans orcutti) (C)\
Megafaunal wolf e.g.\
Beringian wolf (Canis lupus ssp.) (C)\
Dhole (Cuon alpinus; extirpated) (C)\
Protocyon troglodytes\
Arctoidea\
Musteloidea\
Mephitidae\
Short-faced skunk (Brachyprotoma obtusata) (C)\
Mustelidae\
Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii; extirpated) (C)\
Various bear (Ursidae) spp.\
Arctodus simus (C)\
Florida spectacled bear (Tremarctos floridanus) (C)\
South American short-faced bear (Arctotherium wingei)(C)\
Giant polar bear (Ursus maritimus tyrannus; a possible inhabitant) (C)\
Afrotheria\
Paenungulata\
Tethytheria\
All native spp. of Proboscidea\
Mastodons\
American mastodon (Mammut americanum) (H)\
Pacific mastodon (Mammut pacificus) (H) (validity uncertain)\
Gomphotheriidae spp.\
Cuvieronius\
Mammoth (Mammuthus) spp.\
Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) (H)\
Pygmy mammoth (Mammuthus exilis) (H)\
Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) (H)\
Sirenia\
Dugongidae\
Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas; extirpated from North America, survived in Beringia into 18th century) (H)\
Euarchontoglires\
Bats\
Stock’s vampire bat (Desmodus stocki) (C)\
Pristine mustached bat (Pteronotus (Phyllodia) pristinus) (C)\
Rodents\
Giant beaver (Castoroides) spp.\
Castoroides ohioensis (H)\
Castoroides leiseyorum (H)\
Klein’s porcupine (Erethizon kleini) (H)\
Giant island deer mouse (Peromyscus nesodytes) (C)\
Neochoerus spp. e.g.\
Pinckney’s capybara (Neochoerus pinckneyi) (H)\
Neochoerus aesopi (H)\
Neotoma findleyi\
Neotoma pygmaea\
Synaptomys australis\
All giant hutia (Heptaxodontidae) spp.\
Blunt-toothed giant hutia (Amblyrhiza inundata; could grow as large as an American black bear) (H)\
Plate-toothed giant hutia (Elasmodontomys obliquus) (H)\
Twisted-toothed mouse (Quemisia gravis) (H)\
Osborn’s key mouse (Clidomys osborn’s) (H)\
Xaymaca fulvopulvis (H)\
Lagomorphs\
Aztlan rabbit (Aztlanolagus sp.) (H)\
Giant pika (Ochotona whartoni) (H)\
Eulipotyphla\
Notiosorex dalquesti\
Notiosorex harrisi\
Xenarthra\
Pilosa\
Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla; extirpated, range partially recolonised) (C)\
All remaining ground sloth spp.\
Eremotherium (megatheriid giant ground sloth) (H)\
Nothrotheriops (nothrotheriid ground sloth) (H)\
Megalonychid ground sloth spp.\
Megalonyx (H)\
Nohochichak (H)\
Xibalbaonyx (H)\
Meizonyx\
Mylodontid ground sloth spp.\
Paramylodon (H)\
Cingulata\
All members of Glyptodontinae\
Glyptotherium (H)\
Beautiful armadillo (Dasypus bellus) (H)\
Pachyarmatherium\
All Pampatheriidae spp.\
Holmesina (H)\
Pampatherium (H)\
Birds\
Water Fowl\
Ducks\
Bermuda flightless duck (Anas pachyscelus) (H)\
Californian flightless sea duck (Chendytes lawi) (C)\
Mexican stiff-tailed duck (Oxyura zapatima)(H)\
Neochen barbadiana (H)\
Turkey (Meleagris) spp.\
Californian turkey (Meleagris californica) (H)\
Meleagris crassipes (H)\
Various Gruiformes spp.\
All cave rail (Nesotrochis) spp. e.g.\
Antillean cave rail (Nesotrochis debooyi) (C)\
Barbados rail (Incertae sedis) (C)\
Cuban flightless crane (Antigone cubensis) (H)\
La Brea crane (Grus pagei) (H)\
Various flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) spp.\
Minute flamingo (Phoenicopterus minutus) (C)\
Cope’s flamingo (Phoenicopterus copei) (C)\
Dow’s puffin (Fratercula dowi) (C)\
Pleistocene Mexican diver spp.\
Plyolimbus baryosteus (C)\
Podiceps spp.\
Podiceps parvus (C)\
Storks\
La Brea/Asphalt stork (Ciconia maltha) (C)\
Wetmore’s stork (Mycteria wetmorei) (C)\
Pleistocene Mexican cormorants spp. (genus Phalacrocorax)\
Phalacrocorax goletensis (C)\
Phalacrocorax chapalensis (C)\
All remaining teratorn (Teratornithidae) spp.\
Aiolornis incredibilis (C)\
Cathartornis gracilis (C)\
Oscaravis olsoni (C)\
Teratornis merriami (C)\
Teratornis woodburnensis (C)\
Several New World vultures (Cathartidae) spp.\
Pleistocene black vulture (Coragyps occidentalis ssp.) (C)\
Megafaunal Californian condor (Gymnogyps amplus) (C)\
Clark’s condor (Breagyps clarki) (C)\
Cuban condor (Gymnogyps varonai) (C)\
Several Accipitridae spp.\
American neophrone vulture (Neophrontops americanus) (C)\
Woodward’s eagle (Amplibuteo woodwardi) (C)\
Cuban great hawk (Buteogallus borrasi) (C)\
Daggett’s eagle (Buteogallus daggetti) (C)\
Fragile eagle (Buteogallus fragilis) (C)\
Cuban giant hawk (Gigantohierax suarezi) (C)\
Errant eagle (Neogyps errans) (C)\
Grinnell’s crested eagle (Spizaetus grinnelli) (C)\
Willett’s hawk-eagle (Spizaetus willetti) (C)\
Caribbean titan hawk (Titanohierax) (C)\
Several owl (Strigiformes) spp.\
Brea miniature owl (Asphaltoglaux) (C)\
Kurochkin’s pygmy owl (Glaucidium kurochkini) (C)\
Brea owl (Oraristix brea) (C)\
Cuban giant owl (Ornimegalonyx) (C)\
Bermuda flicker (Colaptes oceanicus) (C)\
Several caracara (Caracarinae) spp.\
Bahaman terrestrial caracara (Caracara sp.) (C)\
Puerto Rican terrestrial caracara (Caracara sp.) (C)\
Jamaican caracara (Carcara tellustris) (C)\
Cuban caracara (Milvago sp.) (C)\
Hispaniolan caracara (Milvago sp.) (C)\
Psittacopasserae\
Psittaciformes\
Mexican thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta phillipsi) (H)\
Several giant tortoise spp.\
Hesperotestudo (H)\
Gopherus spp.\
Gopherus donlaloi (H)\
Chelonoidis spp.\
Chelonoidis marcanoi (H)\
Chelonoidis alburyorum (H)\

6) Sahul is a former continent composed of Australia and New Guinea. Its believed extinctions occurred earlier here, than in the rest of the world. As to date range, scientific argument continues. Though it’s believed to be around the 20,000 year period. After human arrival about 63,000 BC
Marsupials\
Various members of Diprotodontidae\
Diprotodon (largest known marsupial)\
Hulitherium tomasetti\
Maokopia ronaldi\
Zygomaturus\
Palorchestes (“marsupial tapir”)\
Various members of Vombatidae\
Lasiorhinus angustidens (giant wombat)\
Phascolonus (giant wombat)\
Ramasayia magna (giant wombat)\
Vombatus hacketti (Hackett’s wombat)\
Warendja wakefieldi (dwarf wombat)\
Sedophascolomys (giant wombat)\
Phascolarctos stirtoni (giant koala)\
Marsupial lion (Thylacoleo carnifex)\
Borungaboodie (giant potoroo)\
Various members of Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, etc.)\
Procoptodon (short-faced kangaroos) e.g.\
Procoptodon goliah\
Sthenurus (giant kangaroo)\
Simosthenurus (giant kangaroo)\
Various Macropus (giant kangaroo) spp. e.g.\
Macropus ferragus\
Macropus titan\
Macropus pearsoni\
Protemnodon spp. (giant wallaby)\
Troposodon (wallaby)\
Bohra (giant tree kangaroo)\
Propleopus oscillans (omnivorous, giant musky rat-kangaroo)\
Nombe\
Congruus\
Various forms of Sarcophilus (Tasmanian devil)\
Sarcophilus laniarius (25% larger than modern species, unclear if it is actually a distinct species from living Tasmanian devil)\
Sarcophilus moornaensis\
Monotremes: egg-laying mammals.\
Echidna\
Murrayglossus hacketti (giant echidna)\
Megalibgwilia ramsayi\
Birds\
Pygmy Cassowary (Casuarius lydekkeri)\
Genyornis (a two-meter-tall (6.6 ft) dromornithid\
Giant malleefowl (Progura gallinacea)\
Cryptogyps lacertosus\
Dynatoaetus gaffae\
Several Phoenicopteridae spp.\
Xenorhynchopsis spp. (Australian flamingo)\
Xenorhynchopsis minor\
Xenorhynchopsis tibialis\
Reptiles\
Crocs & Gators\
Quinkana was one of the last surviving land crocodiles\
Ikanogavialis (the last fully marine crocodilian)\
Paludirex (Australian freshwater mekosuchine crocodiian)\
Quinkana (Australian terrestrial mekosuchine crocodilian, apex predator)\
Volia (a two-to-three meter long mekosuchine crocodylian, apex predator of Pleistocene Fiji)\
Mekosuchus\
Mekosuchus inexpectatus (New Caledonian land crocodile)\
Mekosuchus kalpokasi (Vanuatu land crocodile)\
Varanus sp. (Pleistocene and Holocene New Caledonia)\
Megalania (Varanus pricus) (a giant predatory monitor lizard comparable or larger than the Komodo dragon)\
Snakes\
Wonambi (a five-to-six-metre-long Australian constrictor snake)\
Several spp. of Meiolaniidae (giant armoured turtles)\
Meiolania\
Ninjemys\

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