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The most famous members of the reptile family, the dinosaurs, became extinct as a result of the impact of a huge meteor, which changed the Earth’s environments, and as a result, many species could not survive. In the last few centuries however almost all known reptile extinctions can be attributed to human activity – either directly, through overhunting, or indirectly, by introducing predatory species, or altering the habitat the reptiles rely on for survival. Mariner’s often relied on reptiles (particularly tortoises) on strategic islands as a source of food, and in the nineteenth century in particular severely depleted some populations of reptiles, and completely wiped out others. Once we lose them, we will never get them back.
Below is a list of recorded extinctions of reptile species, with their locality, date of last sighting, and the reason for their disappearance. Human activity has been responsible in all known cases. There is also the Black Soft-shell Turtle (Aspideretes nigricans), which is extinct in the wild but can be found in a single artificial temple pond in Bangladesh.
Martinique Giant Ameiva (Ameiva major)
Martinique (1960) Introduced predatory species
Round Island Burrowing Boa (Bolyeria multocarinata)
Round Island, Mauritius (1975) Deterioration of habitat quality, largely due to
the introduction of rabbits and goats
Jamaica Giant Galliwasp (Celestus occiduus)
Jamaica (1840) Introduced predatory species
Yunnan Box Turtle (Cuora yunnanensis)
China (1906) Destruction of habitat
Cocteau's Skink (Macroscincus coctei)
Cape Verde (early 20th century) Hunting pressure and prolonged drought
Eastwood's Longtailed Seps (Tetradactylus eastwoodae)
South Africa (1913) Human habitat disturbance
Cylindraspis inepta
Mauritius (early 18th century) Hunting pressure and introduced species
Cylindraspis peltastes
Rodrigues, Mauritius (1800) Hunting pressure, human habitat degradation and introduced species
Cylindraspis triserrata
Mauritius (early 18th century) Hunting pressure and introduced species
Cylindraspis vosmaeri
Rodrigues, Mauritius (1800) Hunting pressure and introduced species
Leiolopisma mauritiana
Mauritius (1600) Introduced predatory species
Typhlops cariei
Mauritius (17th century) Introduced predatory species
Saint Croix Racer (Alsophis sanctaecrucis)
Virgin Islands, USA, early 20th century
Ameiva cineracea
Guadeloupe, early 20th century
Cylindraspis indica
Réunion (1800)
Hoplodactylus delcourti
New Zealand (mid 19th century)
Leiocephalus eremitus
USA (1900)
Leiocephalus herminieri
Martinique (1930s)
Seychelles Black Terrapin (Pelusios seychellensis)
Seychelles (1895)
Gecko Diurne Géant De Rodrigues (Phelsuma gigas)
Rodrigues, Mauritius (end 19th century)
Tonga Ground Skink (Tachygia microlepis)
Tonga
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The Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis)
© Endangered Species International
Round Island Burrowing Boa (Bolyeria multocarinata)
© Endangered Species International
Cylindraspis vosmaeri © Endangered Species International
Hoplodactylus delcourti © Endangered Species International
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