Large Saint Helena Petrel (Pterodroma rupinarum)
Posted on 31 December, 1550 in Extinct
Year Last Seen:
1550
Comments:
This species was endemic to the island of St Helena, but is thought to have been hunted to extinction shortly after the island's discovery in 1502.
Habitat:
It may have bred throughout the interior of the island. It is likely to have foraged over the sea.
Causes:
It presumably became extinct due to predation by people and introduced comensal species.
Distribution:
Pterodroma rupinarum was one of three petrel species known only from the fossil record of St Helena (to UK). It presumably became extinct after the island was discovered in 1502 (Olson 1975b).