answersLogoWhite

0

Why species became extinct?

Updated: 10/8/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Best Answer

There are several different reasons why species become extinct. Sometimes extinctions are related to catastrophic global events such as the impact of a large comet or meteor, causing firestorms, great clouds of debris blotting out the sun, and so forth. Sometimes it is just a matter of natural selection as described by Darwin; species compete with other species, and some species lose the competition.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

The dodo is extinct for a number of reasons. When humans settled permanently on Mauritius, they cleared native dodo habitat, destroying nesting grounds. They also introduced various new species, all of which were a threat to the dodo. Dogs and pigs killed the birds; cats and preyed on the young chicks; and Crab-eating Macaques were introduced from Asia - these ate the eggs of the dodo.

The Thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, is extinct because the European settlers feared it was killing their livestock. A bounty was placed on it, so it was hunted to extinction. Scientists have also proposed the theory that, by the time the Thylacine was limited to just Tasmania, the remaining specimens did not have sufficient genetic diversity to sustain the population. A similar problem is currently affecting the Tasmanian devil, resulting in the spread of the fatal DFTD, or Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

There were once two species of bilby in Australia, but now there is just one. The Lesser bilby became extinct for several reasons. Expansion of agriculture pushed these bilbies back so that they could only live in deserts. Then, they became prey for introduced foxes and cats. The introduction of the rabbit, which voraciously eats much of the vegetation the Lesser bilby ate, reduced its food sources. Rabbits also dig burrows which cause problems for the bilby's habitat, as they tend to cause the bilbies to be caved in. The bilby's habitat has also suffered from being trampled on by herds of stock animals.

Currently, there is just one type of emu, but there used to be three known species. Two species of dwarf emu inhabited Kangaroo Island (off the South Australian coast) and King Island (in Bass Strait) but they became extinct once whalers began visiting and settling the area. The whalers hunted the emus for food.

The Toolache wallaby was a particularly attractive wallaby of Australia. It became extinct for two main reasons. It was hunted for its fur and for sport. The main factor that led to its extinction, though, was habitat clearing, the loss of native vegetation and the fact that its habitat was changed so drastically through being drained. Swampland was important in the Toolache wallaby's habitat, and these regions were drained for agriculture.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

They became extinct because of the way some people treat the Earth. Some reasons why some animals became extinct because are because of littering, pollution, and smoking.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

There is absolutely no way to answer that question without knowing what species you are referring to.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Some animals become extinct in the prehistoric times because they no longer had the conditions they were used to living under. This may have included water.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why species became extinct?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What happened to a dodo?

The dodo became an extinct species.


What does it mean when an species becomes extinct?

It means that there is no more left of that particular species. Like the dinosaurs became extinct, and stuff.


What would happen if the mouse became extinct?

If an animal becomes extinct, there will be no more of that species left like the Dodo. No more are left as they are extinct.


What animal species became extinct on August 28 2007?

None


Why Aquangga extinct?

The Quagga became extinct because they were easy to find and kill. They were over hunted and the species was not preserved.


What animal species became extinct in 1914?

Passenger pigeon, Carolina paraquet.


What would happen if one of the species in your chain became extinct?

If an animal in a ecosystem chain became extinct - the WHOLE ecosystem would collapse because, believe it or not, every single species counts. For example, if a bird species in a forest became extinct - everything that ate the bird would die without their "food" and everything that ate them would die and so on and so forth.


What tool can help scientists to determine ancient species became extinct?

fossil record


Is a manatee a endangered species?

Florida manatees almost became extinct or died out completely


When no living member of a species exist the species?

when there are no living members of a species the species is said to be "extinct".


Is most species became extinct today because of the habit is destroyed?

Species die everyday , but new ones are discovered as well.


How did quanga's extinct?

Quaggas were a species of zebra that lived in the plains of Africa. They became extinct partly because of being over hunted by Dutch settlers.