Rediscovered Species and Subspecies
Extinction of organisms is difficult to prove, even in well-studied groups such as mammals (Fisher & Blomberg, 2010). Organisms that haven’t been sighted for a long time and are considered possibly extinct, are regularly rediscovered (Fisher & Blomberg, 2010).
Photo: Rediscovered specimen of the Yunnan Box Turtle. According to Wikimedia Commons this image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Australian biologists Diana O. Fisher and Simon P. Blomberg conclude in their paper published in 2010 that “[mammal] species affected by habitat loss were much more likely to be misclassified as extinct or to remain missing than those affected by introduced predators and diseases, or overkill, unless they had very restricted distributions” (Fisher & Blomberg, 2010).
It is most likely that the highest rates of rediscovery will come from searching for species that have gone missing during the 20th century and have relatively large ranges threatened by habitat loss, rather than from additional effort focused on charismatic missing species. (Fisher & Blomberg, 2010).
NOTE: The lists with rediscovered species and subspecies presented here are incomplete and will regularly be updated with new entries. Do you know a species or subspecies that should be included? Please contact us if you have more information.
Species
The subjoined table shows you some of the rediscovered species in an incomplete list. One rediscovered species has been removed from the subjoined list: the Christmas Island Shrew (Crocidura trichura). This species was last sighted in 1900 and rediscovered in 1985 (Fisher & Blomberg, 2010). However, recent surveys were not able to find it. Therefore it has been moved to the list of missing species and subspecies that are possibly extinct.
| Rediscovered Species | |||||
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Last Sighting Date |
Rediscovery Date |
TSEW Status |
IUCN Status |
| Discoglossus nigriventer | Hula Painted Frog | 1955 | 2011 | RD | EX |
| Ansonia latidisca | Bornean Rainbow Toad | 1924 | 2011 | RD | EN |
| Rana fisheri | Vegas Vally Leopard Frog | 1942 | 2011 | RD | EX |
| Rhodacme filosa | Wicker Ancylid | Before 1950? | 2011 | RD | EX |
| Atelopus balios | Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad | 1995 | 2010 | RD | DD |
| Hyperolius sankuruensis | Omaniundu Reed Frog | 1979 | 2010 | RD | DD |
| Hyperolius nimbae | Mount Nimba Reed Frog | 1967 | 2010 | RD | EN |
| Chiropterotriton mosaueri | Mexican Cave Splayfoot Salamander | 1941 | 2010 | RD | DD |
| Zyzomys pedunculatus | Central Rock Rat | 2002 |
2010 |
RD |
CR (PE) |
| Incilius holdridgei | Holdridge’s Toad | 1986 |
2009 |
RD |
|
| Tokudaia muenninki | Okinawa Spiny Rat | 1978 |
2008 |
RD |
CR |
| Acomys nesiotes | Cyprus Spiny Mouse | 1980 |
2007 |
RD |
DD |
| Gallotia auaritae | La Palma Giant Lizard | After 1500 |
2007 |
RD |
CR |
| Aythya innotata | Madagascar Pochard | 1991 |
2006 |
RD |
CR |
| Pseudobulweria becki | Beck’s Petrel | 1929 |
2006 |
RD |
CR |
| Clappia cahabensis | Cahaba Pebblesnail | 1965 |
2005 |
RD |
EX |
| Dipodomys insularis | San Jose Kangaroo Rat | 1989 |
2005 |
RD |
CR |
| Elimia lachryma | Nodulose Coosa River Snail | 1965 |
2005 |
RD |
EX |
| Elimia vanuxemiana | Cobble Elimia | 1965 |
2005 |
RD |
EX |
| Cuora yunnanensis | Yunnan Box Turtle | 1906 |
2004 |
RD |
CR |
| Myotis planiceps | Flat-headed Myotis | 1970 |
2004 |
RD |
EN |
| Tarsius pumilus | Pygmy Tarsier | 1930 |
2004 |
RD |
DD |
| Phyllomys unicolor | Bahian Tree Rat | 1824 |
2004 |
RD |
CR |
| Atelopus cruciger | Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog | 1986 |
2003 |
RD |
CR |
| Barkudia insularis | Barkudia Limbless Skink | 1917 |
2003 |
RD |
DD |
| Oceanites maorianus | New Zealand Storm-petrel | 1800s |
2003 |
RD |
CR |
| Trichocichla rufa | Long-legged Warbler | 1974 |
2003 |
RD |
EN |
| Hapalopsittaca fuertesi | Fuertes's Parrot | 1911 |
2002 |
RD |
CR |
| Nomascus nasutus | Eastern Black-crested Gibbon | 1965 |
2002 |
RD |
CR |
| Dobsonia chapmani | Philippine Bare-backed Fruit Bat | 1969 |
2001 |
RD |
CR |
| Microtus bavaricus | Bavarian Pine Vole | 1977 |
2000 |
RD |
CR |
| Chinchilla chinchilla | Short-tailed Chinchilla | 1953 |
2000 |
RD |
CR |
| Chacodelphys formosa | Chacoan Pygmy Opossum | 1920 |
2000 |
RD |
VU |
| Rhagomys rufescens | Brazilian Arboreal Mouse | 1917 |
2000 |
RD |
NT |
| Kerivoula africana | Tanzanian Woolly Bat | 1878 |
2000 |
RD |
EN |
| Acerodon humilis | Talaud Flying Fox | 1897 |
1999 |
RD |
EN |
| Lutra sumatrana | Hairy-nosed Otter | 1977 |
1998 |
RD |
EN |
| Phaenomys ferrugineus | Rio de Janeiro Arboreal Rat | 1941 |
1998 |
RD |
VU |
| Sylvilagus insonus | Omilteme Cottontail | 1909 |
1998 |
RD |
EN |
| Nesoryzomys swarthi | Santiago Galapágos Mouse | 1906 |
1997 |
RD |
VU |
| Crocidura andamanensis | Andaman White-toothed Shrew | 1901 |
1997 |
RD |
CR |
| Zyzomys pedunculatus | Central Rock Rat | 1960 |
1996 |
RD |
CR (PE) |
| Nesoryzomys fernandinae | Fernandina Rice Rat | 1979 |
1995 |
RD |
VU |
| Pteralopex anceps | Bougainville Monkey-faced Bat | 1968 |
1995 |
RD |
EN |
| Eupetaurus cinereus | Woolly Flying Squirrel | 1924 |
1994 |
RD |
DD |
| Potorous gilbertii | Gilbert's Potoroo | 1879 |
1994 |
RD |
CR |
| Bythiospeum pfeifferi | Unknown | 1949 |
1993 |
RD |
CR |
| Latidens salimalii | Salim Ali's Fruit Bat | 1948 |
1993 |
RD |
EN |
| Aproteles bulmerae | Bulmer's Fruit Bat | 1977 |
1992 |
RD |
CR |
| Pardofelis badia | Bay Cat | 1928 |
1992 |
RD |
EN |
| Sminthopsis douglasi | Julia Creek Dunnart | 1972 |
1991 |
RD |
NT |
| Balantiopteryx infusca | Brown Sac-winged Bat | 1897 |
1991 |
RD |
EN |
| Mysateles garridoi | Garrido's Hutia | 1989 |
1989 |
RD |
CR (PE) |
| Rhinopithecus avunculus | Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey | 1967 |
1989 |
RD |
CR |
| Allocebus trichotis | Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur | 1964 |
1989 |
RD |
DD |
| Genetta cristata | Crested Genet | 1933 |
1989 |
RD |
VU |
| Tolypeutes tricinctus | Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo | 1969 |
1988 |
RD |
VU |
| Trachypithecus delacouri | Delacour Langur | 1965 |
1987 |
RD |
CR |
| Uromys rex | King Rat | 1964 |
1987 |
RD |
EN |
| Viverra civettina | Malabar Civet | 1929 |
1987 |
RD |
CR |
| Crocidura goliath | Goliath White-toothed Shrew | 1908 |
1987 |
RD |
LC |
| Chaetomys subspinosus | Thin-spined Porcupine | 1952 |
1986 |
RD |
VU |
| Mustela nigripes | Black-footed Ferret | 1974 |
1981 |
RD |
EN |
| Muntiacus feae | Fea's Muntjac | 1914 |
1977 |
RD |
DD |
| Sminthopsis longicaudata | Long-tailed Dunnart | 1940 |
1976 |
RD |
LC |
| Chinchilla lanigera | Long-tailed Chinchilla | 1968 |
1975 |
RD |
CR |
| Solenodon cubanus | Almiqui | 1956 |
1975 |
RD |
EN |
| Pteropus livingstonii | Comoro Black Flying Fox | 1927 |
1975 |
RD |
CR |
| Oreonax flavicauda | Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey | 1926 |
1974 |
RD |
CR |
| Onychogalea fraenata | Bridled Nailtail Wallaby | 1930 |
1973 |
RD |
EN |
| Caprolagus hispidus | Hispid Hare | 1960 |
1971 |
RD |
EN |
| Porcula salvania | Pygmy Hog | 1958 |
1971 |
RD |
CR |
| Leontopithecus chrysopygus | Black Lion Tamarin | 1905 |
1970 |
RD |
EN |
| Sminthopsis psammophila | Sandhill Dunnart | 1894 |
1969 |
RD |
EN |
| Pseudomys oralis | Hastings River Mouse | 1845 |
1969 |
RD |
VU |
| Parantechinus apicalis | Dibbler | 1884 |
1967 |
RD |
EN |
| Macropus parma | Parma Wallaby | 1932 |
1965 |
RD |
NT |
| Arctocephalus philippii | Juan Fernández Fur Seal | 1916 |
1965 |
RD |
NT |
| Prolemur simus | Greater Bamboo Lemur | 1876 |
1964 |
RD |
CR |
| Latimeria chalumnae | Comorese Coelacanth | 65.5 million years ago |
1938 |
RD |
CR |
| Pseudomys shortridgei | Heath Mouse | 1931 |
1961 |
RD |
NT |
| Gymnobelideus leadbeateri | Leadbeater's Possum | 1909 |
1961 |
RD |
EN |
| Arctocephalus townsendi | Guadalupe Fur Seal | 1926 |
1949 |
RD |
NT |
| Cephalophus jentinki | Jentink's Duiker | 1892 |
1948 |
RD |
EN |
| Plagiodontia aedium | Cuvier's Hutia | 1923 |
1947 |
RD |
EN |
| Lasiorhinus krefftii | Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat | 1910 |
1937 |
RD |
CR |
| Caloprymnus campestris | Desert Rat-kangaroo | 1841 |
1931 |
RD |
EX |
| Pteropus tuberculatus | Vanikoro Flying Fox | 1828 |
1927 |
RD |
CR (PE) |
| Solenodon paradoxus | Hispaniolan Solenodon | 1870 |
1907 |
RD |
EN |
| Dinomys branickii | Pacarana | 1873 |
1904 |
RD |
VU |
Subspecies
The subjoined table shows you some of the rediscovered subspecies in an incomplete list. Although it was not completely extinct and surviving in captivity, the partulid snail Partula taeniata elongata has been rediscovered in the wild on the island of Moorea (French Polynesia) in 2003 (Coote, 2007).
| Rediscovered Species | |||||
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Last Sighting Date |
Rediscovery Date |
TSEW Status |
IUCN Status |
| Sula dactylatra tasmani | Tasman Booby | 1788 |
2009 |
RD |
NE |
| Equus quagga burchellii | Burchell's Zebra | 1918 |
2004 |
RD |
NE |
References
Abarca, J., Chaves, G., García-Rodríguez, A., Vargas, R. (2010) Reconsidering extinction: Rediscovery of Incilius holdridgei (Anura: Bufonidae) in Costa Rica after 25 years. Herpetological Review 41, 150-152.
BBC Nature (2011). Lost rainbow toad is rediscovered. Downloaded on 14 July 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14151541.
BirdLife International (2008). Sula tasmani. In: IUCN (2009). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 August 2009.
BirdLife International (2010). Aythya innotata. In: IUCN (2010). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 October 2010.
Black, R. (2011). Frog hunt ends: Most still absent. BBC News (17 February 2011). Downloaded on 17 February 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12484316.
Conservation International (2011). The search for lost frogs - Rediscovering lost amphibians around the world. Downloaded on 18 February 2011 from http://www.conservation.org/campaigns/lost_frogs/Pages/search_for_lost_amphibians.aspx
Coote, T. (2007). Partula taeniata. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 13 November 2010.
Fisher, D.O. and Blomberg, S.P. (2010). Correlates of rediscovery and the detectability of extinction in mammals. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Published online 29 September 2010, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1579. [Online fulltext pdf]
Hance, J. (2011). First ever picture of long lost rainbow toad. Mongabay.com, 13 July 2011. Downloaded on 14 July 2011 from http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0713-hance_borneanrainbowtoad.html.
Hekkala, E.R., et al. (2011). Resurrecting an extinct species: archival DNA, taxonomy, and conservation of the Vegas Valley leopard frog. Conservation Genetics. Published online 28 May 2011. DOI 10.1007/s10592-011-0229-6.
IUCN (2010). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 October 2010.
Kissel, A. (2010). Scientist discover rock rat in central Australia. Radio Australia News. Downloaded on 22 January 2011 from http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201006/2925169.htm?desktop.
Ó Foighil D, Li J, Lee T, Johnson P, Evans R, et al. (2011). Conservation Genetics of a Critically Endangered Limpet Genus and Rediscovery of an Extinct Species. PLoS ONE 6(5): e20496. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020496. Available online: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0020496.
Rinat, Zafrir (2011). Long thought extinct, Hula painted frog found once again in Israeli nature reserve. Haaretz.com. Downloaded on 17 November 2011 from http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/long-thought-extinct-hula-painted-frog-found-once-again-in-israeli-nature-reserve-1.396000.
Shirihai, H. (2008). Rediscovery of Beck’s Petrel Pseudobulweria becki, and other observations of tubenoses from the Bismarck archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 128(1): 3-16.
The Peregrine Fund. (2006). Madagascar Project Press Releases - Bird Considered Extinct has Been Re-discovered - Madagascar Pochard (20-11-2006).
UC (2009). Extinct seabird rediscovered in laboratory. University of Canterbury. Published online by Communications and Development. Downloaded on 19 August 2009 from http://www.comsdev.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2009/090812a.shtml.
| Citation: | Maas, P.H.J. (2011). Rediscovered Species and Subspecies. In: TSEW (). The Sixth Extinction Website. <http://www.petermaas.nl/extinct>. Downloaded on . |
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| Updated: | 17 November 2011 |