MEGALADAPIS
This remarkable animal is one of at least 17 species of extinct giant lemurs being around 4 to 5 feet long. It displays similarity of that of a koala with hands well adapted to hold around the vertical tree trunks. It lacked the sharp perception as other primates since its eyes were on the side of its head and lived a slow pace life unlike their smaller cousins
Around 2,300 years ago, humans arived on Madagascar. Almost after human arrival there was a decrease of the dung fungus, Sporormiella indicating a decline of megafauna. The land before were full of dense forest and vegetation. Evidence conclude that humans have burned large pieces of forest turning them into grassland, being unsuitable habitat for the lemurs, finally pushing them to be extinct between 500 and 600 years ago. They were at a huge disadvantage since they were large, diurnal, slow moving creatures with a low reproductive rate.
This remarkable animal is one of at least 17 species of extinct giant lemurs being around 4 to 5 feet long. It displays similarity of that of a koala with hands well adapted to hold around the vertical tree trunks. It lacked the sharp perception as other primates since its eyes were on the side of its head and lived a slow pace life unlike their smaller cousins
Around 2,300 years ago, humans arived on Madagascar. Almost after human arrival there was a decrease of the dung fungus, Sporormiella indicating a decline of megafauna. The land before were full of dense forest and vegetation. Evidence conclude that humans have burned large pieces of forest turning them into grassland, being unsuitable habitat for the lemurs, finally pushing them to be extinct between 500 and 600 years ago. They were at a huge disadvantage since they were large, diurnal, slow moving creatures with a low reproductive rate.
BAIJI DOLPHIN
This animal is a freshwater cetacean growing up to around 8 feet and weighing around a quarter of a ton formerly lives along the middle and lower end of the Yangtze River, but in the 1990s, could only be found downstream in Dongting Lake. Even though the dolphin was protected in 1975, they were continued to be heavily exploited. These dolphins were known to be quiet, shy and avoided shipping vessels. Unlike their relatives, the South Asian river dolphin which are virtually blind, they can see but they still have poor vision.
During the 1950s, they once numbered in the thousands and acheived near demi-god status among fishermen, but a 1999 survey find only an estimated 13 dolphins. In Mao's Great Leap Forward, their protection were liftd and they were hunted for food and skins. But a major threat to them was the destruction of the Yangtze River. As China developed economically, the dolphin population declined. Industrial waste flows into the river, the riverbed were drenched and strengthened with concrete in many locations, ships multipled in numbers and size added with the heavy fishing of the dolphin's native prey. At least 50% of deaths were related to rolling fish hooks and entanglement of nets. Finally the building of the Three Gorges Dam further shrunk the dolphin's habitat and was thought to help led the animal to be extinct in the wild.
A 2006 survey of the Yangtze River were unsuccessful at finding any signs they still existed making the baiji dolphin the fisrt large vertebrate to be extinct in 50 years by human activity and the fourth time a whole evolutionary line of mammals to be gone since 1500.
This animal is a freshwater cetacean growing up to around 8 feet and weighing around a quarter of a ton formerly lives along the middle and lower end of the Yangtze River, but in the 1990s, could only be found downstream in Dongting Lake. Even though the dolphin was protected in 1975, they were continued to be heavily exploited. These dolphins were known to be quiet, shy and avoided shipping vessels. Unlike their relatives, the South Asian river dolphin which are virtually blind, they can see but they still have poor vision.
During the 1950s, they once numbered in the thousands and acheived near demi-god status among fishermen, but a 1999 survey find only an estimated 13 dolphins. In Mao's Great Leap Forward, their protection were liftd and they were hunted for food and skins. But a major threat to them was the destruction of the Yangtze River. As China developed economically, the dolphin population declined. Industrial waste flows into the river, the riverbed were drenched and strengthened with concrete in many locations, ships multipled in numbers and size added with the heavy fishing of the dolphin's native prey. At least 50% of deaths were related to rolling fish hooks and entanglement of nets. Finally the building of the Three Gorges Dam further shrunk the dolphin's habitat and was thought to help led the animal to be extinct in the wild.
A 2006 survey of the Yangtze River were unsuccessful at finding any signs they still existed making the baiji dolphin the fisrt large vertebrate to be extinct in 50 years by human activity and the fourth time a whole evolutionary line of mammals to be gone since 1500.
PLECTOSTOMA CHARASENSE
The genus Plectostoma are micro snails that lives in outcrops of limestone of Southeast Asia.
Plectostoma charasense were once endemic to two limestone hills in the state of Payang, Malaysia living on moist liverworts and mosses covering rocks and trunks.
One of the limestone hills were destroyed by intense quarrying for cement while the surrounding tropical forests of the second hill were converted into a palm oil plantatiom.
The snails were nowhere to be seen in searches on 2010 and 2011 and the last snail was seen in 2007.
Plectostoma charasense were once endemic to two limestone hills in the state of Payang, Malaysia living on moist liverworts and mosses covering rocks and trunks.
One of the limestone hills were destroyed by intense quarrying for cement while the surrounding tropical forests of the second hill were converted into a palm oil plantatiom.
The snails were nowhere to be seen in searches on 2010 and 2011 and the last snail was seen in 2007.