Mauritius Owl (Mascarenotus sauzieri)

Posted on 31 December, 1859 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-STRIGIDAE, extinct-1850s

Year Last Seen:

1859

Comments:

This species was formerly found on Mauritius, but the logging of its forest habitat has driven it to extinction. It was last recorded in 1837, and certainly Extinct by 1859.

Habitat:

Desjardins reported that it inhabited the island's woods.

Causes:

Deforestation, and perhaps also hunting …


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Mascarene Pigeon (Alectroenas nitidissimus)

Posted on 31 December, 1840 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-COLUMBIDAE, extinct-1840s

Year Last Seen:

1840

Comments:

This species was found on Mauritius, but it has been hunted to extinction. The last reports date from 1832 and it is thought to have been Extinct a few years later.

Habitat:

Very little is known, although it evidently inhabited the island's forests, although there …


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Mauritius Grey Parrot (Lophopsittacus bensoni)

Posted on 31 December, 1800 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-PSITTACIDAE, extinct-1800s

Year Last Seen:

1800

Comments:

This species was known from Mauritius, but hunting has driven it Extinct. It was last reported in 1764.

Habitat:

It inhabited the forest.

Causes:

It was widely eaten and is likely to have become extinct through overhunting.

Distribution:

Lophopsittacus bensoni was described from a lower …


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Mauritian Woodpigeon (Columba thiriouxi)

Posted on 31 December, 1730 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-COLUMBIDAE, extinct-1730s

Year Last Seen:

1730

Comments:

This Extinct species has been newly-described from subfossil remains. It is little-known but probably became extinct around 1730 as a result of overhunting, predation by rats, and deforestation.

Habitat:

A small arboreal pigeon.

Causes:

This species was apparently easily caught, and probably became extinct as …


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Mauritian Turtle-Dove (Nesoenas cicur)

Posted on 31 December, 1730 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-COLUMBIDAE, extinct-1730s

Year Last Seen:

1730

Comments:

This Extinct species has been newly-described from subfossil remains. It is little-known but probably became extinct around 1730 as a result of overhunting, predation by rats, and deforestation.

Habitat:

Little is known, but it was probably more terrestrial than N. picturatus (Hume and Walters 2012 …


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Red Rail (Aphanapteryx bonasia)

Posted on 31 December, 1700 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-RALLIDAE, extinct-1700s

Year Last Seen:

1700

Comments:

This species was known from Mauritius, but went Extinct around 1693 due to cat predation and hunting.

Habitat:

It may have inhabited the islands' forests.

Causes:

It was flightless and palatable and therefore was presumably hunted to extinction (Cheke 1987), although introduced cats are also …


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Broad-Billed Parrot (Lophopsittacus mauritianus)

Posted on 31 December, 1700 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-PSITTACIDAE, extinct-1700s

Year Last Seen:

1700

Comments:

This species is known from Mauritius, but has been driven Extinct by hunting pressure. The last records date from 1673-1675, and it was absent in 1693.

Habitat:

There is very little known, although it is likely to have been a forest species and its heavy …


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Mauritius Night-Heron (Nycticorax mauritianus)

Posted on 31 December, 1700 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-ARDEIDAE, extinct-1700s

Year Last Seen:

1700

Comments:

This species is known from the mainland of Mauritius. It was last recorded in 1693, and was probably driven Extinct by hunters before 1700.

Habitat:

It is likely to have inhabited freshwater wetlands.

Causes:

Hunting is likely to have led to its extinction.

Distribution:

Nycticorax …


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Mauritius Shelduck (Alopochen mauritiana)

Posted on 31 December, 1698 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-ANATIDAE, extinct-1690s

Year Last Seen:

1698

Comments:

This species was endemic to Mauritius, but is now Extinct. It was last recorded in 1693, when it was said to be rare, and could not be found in 1698. Hunting is thought to have caused its extinction.

Habitat:

In 1681, it was noted to …


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Mauritian Duck (Anas theodori)

Posted on 31 December, 1696 in Extinct • Tagged with Mauritius (Mauritius), family-ANATIDAE, extinct-1690s

Year Last Seen:

1696

Comments:

This species was found on Mauritius, but is now Extinct having not been recorded since 1696. Hunting is likely to have caused its extinction.

Habitat:

Reports indicate that it was found "on lakes and ponds in the woods".

Causes:

The species was presumably hunted to …


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