Life Collections : extinct and endangered database
The zoology collection includes around 2,000 specimens from species that are listed as extinct or endangered in the IUCN 2000 Red List (Hilton-Taylor, 2000). A total of 520 different species of bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate are represented.
Specimens from over 30 extinct species are contained within the collection, including the thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), and the dodo (Raphus cucullatus). The collection also contains specimens from a further 11 species that survive only in captivity, including several species of partulid land-snails from the South Pacific islands.
Those species found within the collection that are currently at risk of extinction include the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), the Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), the big-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis), and scales from the coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae).
Threat status
Threat status has been determined according to Hilton-Taylor (2000); detailed definitions of each threat category can be found within this reference. Or further details may be seen at Redlist online.
Taxonomic data:
Taxonomy follows that used by Hilton-Taylor (2000) and the 'Name' field contains the currently valid scientific name according to this authority. Where necessary, additional common names have been taken from the following sources: Wilson and Cole (2000) for mammals; Clements (2000) for birds; Frose and Pauly (2001) for fish; and Iverson (1992) for turtles.
References:
Clements, J.F. (2000) Birds of the World: A Checklist. Fifth Edition. Pica Press, Sussex.
Frose, R. and Pauly, D. (2001) FishBase. World Wide Web Electronic Publication.
Hilton-Taylor, C. (Compiler) (2000) 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge.
Iverson, J.B. (1992) A Revised Checklist with Distribution Maps of the Turtles of the World. Published by the author, Richmond, Indiana.
Wilson, D.E. and Cole, F.R. (2000) Common Names of Mammals of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington and London.
Search the database
How to use the databases
A guide to searching the databases
Enquiries regarding the collections should be sent to: life@oum.ox.ac.uk
