Extinction is the permanent disappearance of a species from Earth, meaning no living individuals remain. It marks the end of a unique evolutionary lineage and can result from natural processes or human activity.

🌍 Definition

• Extinction: The dying out or extermination of a species, genus, or larger taxonomic group.
• Once extinct, a species can no longer contribute to ongoing evolutionary processes, though its fossil record may inform scientific understanding.

🔑 Causes of Extinction

• Natural Drivers:
  • Climate change, habitat loss, competition, predation, and disease.
  • Background extinction: the continuous, low-level disappearance of species over geological time.
• Mass Extinctions:
  • Catastrophic events (asteroid impacts, volcanic eruptions, rapid climate shifts) leading to widespread species loss.
  • Example: The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction (~66 million years ago) wiped out non-avian dinosaurs.
• Human-Induced:
  • Overhunting, habitat destruction, pollution, and introduction of invasive species.
  • Example: The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) went extinct in 1681 due to hunting and invasive animals.

📚 Examples

• Golden Toad (Incilius periglenes): Last seen in 1989, now considered extinct.
• Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger): Declared extinct in the 20th century.
• Dodo: Extinct by 1681, symbol of human-driven extinction.
• Woolly Mammoth: Extinct ~4,000 years ago, largely due to climate change and human hunting.

🛠 Anthropological & Ecological Significance

• Material Culture: Extinct species often appear in art, ritual, and myth, shaping cultural identity.
• Paleoclimate Studies: Extinction events help reconstruct environmental shifts.
• Medical Anthropology: Loss of biodiversity affects disease ecology and human health.
• Conservation Biology: Studying extinction informs strategies to protect endangered species today.

✨ Summary

Extinction is the irreversible end of a species, driven by natural cycles or human activity. It is both a biological process and a cultural marker, reminding us of the fragility of life and the importance of conservation.