This list of African species extinct in the Holocene covers extinctions from the Holocene epoch, a geologic epoch that began about 11,650 years before present (about 9700 BCE) and continues to the present.
Africa is highly biodiverse; it is the continent with the largest number of megafauna species, as it was least affected by the extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna. However, a few species have disappeared from Africa as part of the ongoing Holocene extinction, driven by human activity.
Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands, Macaronesia, and Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are biogeographically distinct from mainland Africa and have a much greater number of Holocene extinctions. Recently extinct species from these regions are listed in separate articles.
Many extinction dates are unknown due to a lack of relevant information.
Mammals (class Mammalia)
Elephant-like mammals (order Proboscidea)
Elephants and mammoths (family Elephantidae)
Rodents (order Rodentia)
Old World rats and mice (family Muridae)
Possibly extinct
Primates (order Primates)
Lorises, pottos, and angwantibos (family Lorisidae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
True insectivores (order Eulipotyphla)
True shrews (family Soricidae)
Locally extinct
Carnivorans (order Carnivora)
Locally extinct
Extinct in the wild
Locally extinct
Bears (family Ursidae)
Locally extinct
Horses and allies (family Equidae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct in the wild
Even-toed ungulates (order Artiodactyla)
Pigs (family Suidae)
Right and bowhead whales (family Balaenidae)
Locally extinct
Locally extinct
True deer (family Cervidae)
Locally extinct
Cattle, goats, antelopes, and others (family Bovidae)
Extinct in the wild
Locally extinct
Birds (class Aves)
Guineafowl (family Numididae)
Possibly extinct
Bustards (family Otididae)
Possibly extinct
Hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures (family Accipitridae)
Locally extinct
Cisticolas and allies (family Cisticolidae)
Possibly extinct
Reptiles (class Reptilia)
Squamates (order Squamata)
Amphibians (class Amphibia)
Frogs (order Anura)
African torrent frogs (family Petropedetidae)
Possibly extinct
True toads (family Bufonidae)
Possibly extinct
Extinct in the wild
Minnows and allies (order Cypriniformes)
Carps, minnows, and relatives (family Cyprinidae)
Salmon, trout and relatives (order Salmoniformes)
Salmon, trout and relatives (family Salmonidae)
Livebearers and relatives (family Poeciliidae)
Insects (class Insecta)
Butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera)
Gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae)
Bark lice, book lice, and parasitic lice (order Psocodea)
Possibly extinct
Ostracods (class Ostracoda)
Plants (kingdom Plantae)
Ladyferns and allies (family Athyriaceae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Sago-palms (family Zamiaceae)
Extinct in the wild
Possibly extinct in the wild
Flowering plants (clade Angiospermae)
Custard apples (family Annonaceae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Ebony trees and persimmons (family Ebenaceae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Legumes (family Fabaceae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Showy mistletoes (family Loranthaceae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Mulberries and fig trees (family Moraceae)
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
Possibly extinct
True grasses (family Poaceae)
Possibly extinct
Coffee and relatives (family Rubiaceae)
See also
Notes
References
External links