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Cambridge, Mass. 10 April 2002 Number 510

RECENTLY EXTINCT MAMMALS IN THE MUSEUM
OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY

Kristofer M. Helgen' and Terri L. McFadden'

Mammalian extinctions in the modern era are a cause of pro-
found environmental and scientific concern. Efforts to document
the magnitude of mammalian extinctions within the last 500 years
have increased in recent years (e.g.. Cole et al., 1994; MacPhee
and Marx, 1997; Williams and Nowak, 1993); the most rigorous
of these can be found in MacPhee and Flemming (1999). These
studies have resolved much confusion regarding the enigmatic
taxonomic status of many supposedly extinct mammals, and pro-
duced useful discussions concerning the correct dating of extinc-
tion for others.

The present report provides a list (Table 1 ) of specimens of
recently extinct mammals housed in the Museum of Comparative
Zoology (MCZ). Reporting museum specimens of recently ex-
tinct taxa (such as Feiler, 1999) is especially appropriate because
comparative material for these taxa is by definition limited, and
in many cases, extremely rare in collections (Flannery and Schou-
ten, 2001).

Compilations of modern-era extinctions usually define the
modern era to comprise the last 500 years. Many mammal spe-
cies, especially species restricted to islands, are thought to have
become extinct early within this period, and are known only by

' Mammal Department, Museum of Comparative Zoology. Harvard University, 26
Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02 1 38. USA.

B R E V I O R A -'

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Cambridge, Mass.

10 April 2002

Number 510

HAn

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RECENTLY EXTINCT MAMMALS IN THE MUSEUM
OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY

Kristofer M. Helgen' and Terri L. McFadden'

Mammalian extinctions in the modern era are a cause of pro-
found environmental and scientific concern. Efforts to document
the magnitude of mammalian extinctions within the last 500 years
have increased in recent years (e.g.. Cole et ciL, 1994; MacPhee
and Marx, 1997; Williams and Nowak, 1993); the most rigorous
of these can be found in MacPhee and Flemming (1999). These
studies have resolved much confusion regarding the enigmatic
taxonomic status of many supposedly extinct mammals, and pro-
duced useful discussions concerning the coiTcct dating of extinc-
tion for others.

The present report provides a list (Table 1) of specimens of
recently extinct mammals housed in the Museum of Comparative
Zoology (MCZ). Reporting museum specimens of recently ex-
tinct taxa (such as Feiler, 1999) is especially appropriate because
comparative material for these taxa is by definition limited, and
in many cases, extremely rare in collections (Flannery and Schou-
ten, 2001).

Compilations of modern-era extinctions usually define the
modern era to comprise the last 500 years. Many mammal spe-
cies, especially species restricted to islands, are thought to have
become extinct early within this period, and are known only by

' Mammal Department, Museum of Comparative Zoology. Harvard University, 26
Oxford Street. Cambridge, Massachusetts 02 1 38, USA.

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subfossil material. The Vertebrate Paleontology Department of
the MCZ houses extensive collections of fragmentary subfossil
material of a number of Caribbean endemic mammals, including
Nesophontes micrus, Nesophontes hypomicrus, Nesophontes zam-
icrus, Solenodon marcanoi, Brotomys voratus, Boromys ojfella,
Boromys torrei, Isolobodon portoricensis, Geocapromys colum-
bianus, Geocapromys ingrahami abaconis, and Geocapromys in-
grahami irrectus. This material, reported by Allen (1911, 1917a, b,
1918, 1937), Koopman and Ruibal (1955), Lawrence (1934), and
Patterson (1962), is not discussed here. Instead, only mammal taxa
known to have become extinct within the last 250 years are dis-
cussed.

The MCZ contains specimens of seven mammal species of
valid systematic status that are considered to have become extinct
after 1750. These are the Lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura). Desert
rat-kangaroo (Calopiymnus campestris). Eastern hare wallaby
{Lagorchestes leporides), Thylacine or Tasmanian wolf (Thyla-
cinus cynocephalus), Steller's sea cow {Hydrodamalis gigas), Ca-
ribbean monk seal {Monachus tropica I is), and Little Swan Island
hutia {Geocapromys thoracatus). Species often included in recent
extinction lists but considered to be disqualified taxa by MacPhee
and Flemming (1999:352-354) — disqualified either because they
have been shown not to have become extinct within this period
or because their systematic status is considered invalid — are ex-
cluded from consideration in this list. Thus, although many of
these disqualified taxa, such as Potorous gilbertii, Procyon glov-
eralleni, Tolypeutes tricinctus, and Census schomburgki, are rep-
resented in the collections of the MCZ, we do not include them
here.

Additionally, a number of subspecific mammalian taxa that
have recently become extinct are represented by specimens in the
MCZ. Although mammalian extinction at the subspecific level
has received little attention, several mammal subspecies, widely
recognized as taxonomically valid by recent authors, and un-
doubtedly extinct, are included in this list. These are the New-
foundland wolf {Canis lupus beothucus) and Great Plains wolf
(C /. nubilus\ see Mech, 1974:1); California grizzly bear, (Ursus
arctos californicus\ see Hall, 1984:3); Sea mink {Mustela vison

2002 RECENTLY EXTINCT MAMMALS 11

mcicrodom see Manville, 1966:10); Sundaic tiger {Pantherci tigris
sondaica) and Caspian tiger {P. t. virgata; see Kitchener, 1999);
Barbary lion {Pantherci leo leo; see Nowak, 1999:834); Syrian
ass {Equus hemionus hemippus; see Groves, 1974:162); Northern
black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis brucii; see Groves, 1967:274;
Kingdon, 1997:319); Cape warthog {Phacochoerus aethiopicus
ciethiopiciis\ see Kingdon, 1997:334); Badlands bighorn sheep
{Ovis canadensis auduboni\ see Nowak, 1999:1237); and Santa
Cruz rice rat, {Nesoryzomys indefessus indefessus; see Musser and
Carleton, 1993:714).

Although we hope that this account will not become immedi-
ately outdated as other mammals join the ranks of these extinct
forms, the current conversion rate of natural areas makes future
losses inevitable. Continuing systematic study of species diversity
in mammals and all other taxonomic groups serves to highlight
the tragedy of modern era extinctions via human impact, and
should continue to remind all that the biological specimens pre-
served in museums throughout the world should ideally serve as
a testament to, and not as a memorial for, the remarkable biodi-
versity of the natural world.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank M. Rutzmoser, A. Biewener, C. Schaff, D. Wilson,
and A. Gardner for their assistance.

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. 1918. Fossil mammals from Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Compar-
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. 1937. Geocapromys remains from Exuma Island. Journal of Mammalogy.

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Allen, G. M., and T. Barbour. 1937. The Newfoundland wolf. Journal of Mam-
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12 BREVIORA No. 510

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