SealPup
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Tubenoses in new locations are often described at least informally as new species without justification: to a lesser extent this has been done with seagulls as well.
The newly extinct thread
- Thread starter Surroundx
- Start date
Rawlence, Nicolas J. et al. (In Press, 2017). Speciation, range contraction and extinction in the endemic New Zealand King Shag complex. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Redirecting [Abstract]
The Christmas Island Pipistrelle was officially declared extinct by IUCN in September. 
Christmas Island Pipistrelle declared extinct by IUCN – The Sixth Extinction
Christmas Island Pipistrelle declared extinct by IUCN – The Sixth Extinction
Every time I see a new post on this thread a shiver goes down my spine...
The newly described Cynorkis mammuthus is touted as "possibly extinct" by it's describers, last collected in February 1994:
Hermans, Johan et al. (2017). New species and nomenclatural changes in Cynorkis (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae) from Madagascar and the Mascarenes. Kew Bulletin 72: 38.
Hermans, Johan et al. (2017). New species and nomenclatural changes in Cynorkis (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae) from Madagascar and the Mascarenes. Kew Bulletin 72: 38.
Where do they say it is possibly extinct? The account of that species says:
"conservation status
This species is currently considered to be Data Deficient (DD), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. It is only known from two individuals, both with incomplete locality information, and one of which is an old specimen from 1942. Further research is needed to check the population status, threats and habitat."
Several species in that paper are known from only one or a few specimens, but I can't see anywhere that says mammuthus is possibly extinct.
The conservation status for Cynorkis elephantina is as follows:
"conservation status
This species is currently considered to be Least Concern (LC), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. It is known from many individuals, at a single unprotected locality, in the shade on basaltic rock, but appears to be distant from the nearest human settlements and roads, no obvious imminent threats are apparent. Further research is needed to check the population status, threats and habitat."
I thought that they must therefore be referring to C. mammuthus, since it would be absurd to refer to a species (viz. C. elephantina) as both least concern and possibly extinct!!!
"conservation status
This species is currently considered to be Least Concern (LC), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. It is known from many individuals, at a single unprotected locality, in the shade on basaltic rock, but appears to be distant from the nearest human settlements and roads, no obvious imminent threats are apparent. Further research is needed to check the population status, threats and habitat."
I thought that they must therefore be referring to C. mammuthus, since it would be absurd to refer to a species (viz. C. elephantina) as both least concern and possibly extinct!!!
Actually, reading that it I'd agree it is referring to mammuthus (i.e. larger than elephantina, extinct, and known only from dired specimens). However that doesn't agree with what they were saying earlier in that the locality data for the two known specimens are incomplete so they don't even know exactly where the plants came from, and that further study is needed. Perhaps the discrepancy is due to a rewrite of the paper and some bits got missed in the edits.
The Beaverpond Marstonia Marstonia castor is now officially extinct, because the USFWS didn't do anything to save it.
Beaverpond Marstonia declared extinct by USFWS – The Sixth Extinction
Beaverpond Marstonia declared extinct by USFWS – The Sixth Extinction