List of extinct animals of Australia facts for kids

Following is a complete list of Australian animal extinctions from 1788 to the present. There are 24 birds (though just 1 from the mainland), 4 frogs, and 27 mammal species or subspecies strongly believed to have become extinct in Australia since European settlement.

Extinctions are recorded under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Several invertebrate species have also been listed as extinct by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN); however, this list is less exhaustive, as invertebrates are more difficult to survey and are less well studied.

Extinct Australian animals: 1788 to present

Birds

Species	Common name	Location(s)	Comments	Pictures
Aplonis fusca	Tasman starling	Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, NSW	Last recorded 1923. Competition from introduced European starling, song thrush and common blackbird, clearance for agriculture. Predation from introduced black rats.
Columba vitiensis godmanae	White-throated pigeon (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe pigeon	Lord Howe Island	Last recorded 1853. Believed due to hunting.
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens	Red-crowned parakeet (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe parakeet	Lord Howe Island	Last recorded 1869. Due to persecution, because of predation on gardens and crops.
Dasyornis broadbenti litoralis	Rufous bristlebird (western), south-western rufous bristlebird	WA
Dromaius ater	Dwarf emu, King Island emu	Tas	1822. Extinction through hunting and, apparently, fires started by visiting sailors
Dromaius baudinianus	Kangaroo Island emu	Kangaroo Island	1805. Extinction has been attributed to hunting and habitat clearance through burning. A captive bird died in 1822
Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis	Tasmanian emu	Tas	1850
Drymodes superciliaris colcloughi	Roper River scrub-robin	NT	Last record: 1910. This subspecies may be invalid. It is known from only two specimens of doubtful provenance.
Gallicolumba norfolciensis	Norfolk ground dove	Norfolk Island	1850s
Gerygone insularis	Lord Howe gerygone, Lord Howe warbler	Lord Howe Island	Not recorded since 1928. Believed to be a result of the introduction of black rats following the grounding of SS Makambo in June 1918.
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea	New Zealand pigeon (Norfolk Island race)	Norfolk Island
Lalage leucopyga leucopyga	Norfolk Island long-tailed triller	Norfolk Island
Nestor productus	Norfolk Island kaka	Norfolk Island
Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria	Southern boobook (Lord Howe Island), Lord Howe boobook owl	Lord Howe Island
Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata	Southern boobook (Norfolk Island), Norfolk Island boobook	Norfolk Island	1996
Porphyrio albus	White gallinule	Lord Howe Island
Psephotus pulcherrimus	Paradise parrot	NSW, Qld	Date uncertain but around 1927; more recent sightings are sometimes claimed but have never been confirmed. Cause uncertain, most hypotheses centre on starvation from lack of grass seed after drought, overgrazing, more frequent fires, and introduction of prickly pear.
Rallus pectoralis clelandi	Lewin's water rail (western)	WA	Last record: 1932.
Gallirallus philippensis macquariensis	Macquarie Island rail	Macquarie Island
Rhipidura cervina	Lord Howe fantail	Lord Howe Island	Not recorded since 1924. Believed to be a result of the introduction of black rats following the grounding of SS Makambo in June 1918.
Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus	Norfolk Island thrush, grey-headed blackbird	Norfolk Island
Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus	Lord Howe Island thrush	Lord Howe Island	Not recorded since c. 1924. Believed to be a result of the introduction of black rats following the grounding of SS Makambo in June 1918.
Zosterops albogularis	White-chested white-eye, Norfolk Island silvereye	Norfolk Island	The IUCN considers this species endangered; it is listed as extinct under the EPBC act since it has not been officially documented for over 20 years.
Zosterops strenuus	Robust white-eye	Lord Howe Island	Not recorded since 1923. Believed to be a result of the introduction of black rats following the grounding of SS Makambo in June 1918.

Amphibians

The reason for the decline and extinction of these frog species is unclear, decline in frog populations is an international phenomenon. 14 species are listed as critically endangered, and some of these may already be extinct.

Species	Common name	Location(s)	Comments	Pictures
Rheobatrachus silus	Gastric-brooding frog	Qld	Last wild specimen recorded in 1981
Rheobatrachus vitellinus	Eungella gastric-brooding frog	Qld	Last wild specimen recorded in 1985
Taudactylus acutirostris	Sharp-snouted day frog, sharp-snouted torrent frog	Qld	Last wild specimen recorded in 1997
Taudactylus diurnus	Southern day frog, 1987 Mt Glorious torrent frog	Qld	Last wild specimen recorded in 1979

Reptiles

Mammals and Marsupials

Species	Common name	Location(s)	Comments	Pictures
Bettongia lesueur graii	Boodie, burrowing bettong (inland)	WA
Bettongia penicillata penicillata	Brush-tailed bettong (south-east mainland)	NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA
Caloprymnus campestris	Desert rat-kangaroo	Qld, SA, NT	1935
Chaeropus ecaudatus	Pig-footed bandicoot	NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA	1950s
Conilurus albipes	White-footed rabbit-rat	NSW, Qld, SA, VIC	1857
Lagorchestes asomatus	Central hare-wallaby	NT	1935
Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus	Rufous hare-wallaby (south-west mainland)	NT, SA, WA
Lagorchestes leporides	Eastern hare-wallaby	NSW, Qld, SA, VIC	1890
Lagostrophus fasciatus albipilis	Banded hare-wallaby (mainland)	WA
Macropus eugenii eugenii	Tammar wallaby (South Australia)	SA	Population rediscovered in New Zealand
Macropus greyi	Toolache wallaby	SA, VIC	1932
Macrotis leucura	Lesser bilby	NT, Qld, SA	1931
Macropus greyi	Toolache wallaby	SA, VIC	1932
Macropus greyi	Toolache wallaby	SA, VIC	1932
Melomys rubicola	Bramble Cay melomys	Bramble Cay, QLD	1896
Notomys longicaudatus	Long-tailed hopping-mouse	NT, SA, WA	1901
Notomys macrotis	Big-eared hopping-mouse	WA	1843
Notomys mordax	Darling Downs hopping-mouse	NSW, Qld	1846
Onychogalea lunata	Crescent nail-tail wallaby	SA, WA	1956
Perameles bougainville fasciata	Western barred bandicoot (mainland)	NSW, VIC
Perameles eremiana	Desert bandicoot	NT, SA, WA	<1960
Potorous platyops	Broad-faced potoroo	WA	1865
Pseudomys glaucus	Blue-grey mouse	NSW, Qld	1956
Pseudomys gouldii	Gould's mouse	NSW, Qld, SA, VIC, WA	1857
Pteropus brunneus	Dusky flying fox	Qld	late 1800s
Rattus macleari	Maclear's rat	Christmas Island	1908
Rattus nativitatis	Bulldog rat	Christmas Island	last recorded in 1903
Thylacinus cynocephalus	Thylacine, Tasmanian tiger	Tas	1936

Possibly extinct

Species	Common name	Location(s)	Comments	Pictures
Crocidura trichura	Christmas Island shrew	Christmas Island	1985
Leporillus apicalis	Lesser stick-nest rat	NSW, NT, SA, VIC, WA	1933
Nyctophilus howensis	Lord Howe long-eared bat	Lord Howe Island
Pipistrellus murrayi	Christmas Island pipistrelle	Christmas Island	August 2009

Invertebrates

Several Australian Invertebrates have been listed by the World Conservation Union as having become extinct. However they are not listed as extinct under Australian legislation.

Extinct Australian animals pre-European settlement (1788)

Reptiles

Species	Common name	Location(s)	Comments	Pictures
Megalania	Giant Australian Goanna	Australia	30,000 years b.p.