Tomorrow, November 30, has been designated Remembrance Day for Lost Species. Celebrated annually, this date serves as a commemoration and reflection on extinct and endangered species, cultures, and ecological communities. From the creatures who roam our planet no more to plants and other life forms that are long gone, Remembrance Day for Lost Species is a way to keep alive those memories of what has been lost in time.
Our modern Mid-Atlantic region is home to a diverse range of animal species. But there were so many others that once inhabited these parts that have since died out. Some will no doubt surprise you. From prehistoric predecessors of modern beasts to more recently vanished species, this Flashback Friday Feature pays tribute to just some of the now-extinct animals that once inhabited the Mid-Atlantic.
Camelops
Believe it or not, much of the Americas was once home to native, free-roaming, plentiful camel populations. Unlike the camelids we think of today, which are primarily lamines from South America (llamas, alpacas, etc.), the now-extinct camelop genus was more relative to the modern living camels of the Camelini tribe.
Camelops could be found as far north as Alaska and as far south as Honduras. They graced the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States somewhere between the Chibanian Epoch and the end of the Pleistocene. Camelops went extinct around 10,000 to 11,000 years ago, their disappearance coinciding largely with both the end of Ice Age climate changes and the arrival of humans onto the North American continent. But there are no real definitive reasons for why they died out.
Carolina Parakeet
This colorful bird was lost to us just a little over a century ago. One of three parrot species native to the United States (the others being the now-extirpated thick-billed parrot and still-present green parakeet), it was roughly 12 inches long, weighing around 10 ounces, with primarily green coloring, a yellow head, and orange cheeks.
Some may be under the misconception that the Carolina Parakeet was restricted to North and South Carolina, but in truth, it was once abundant throughout most of the eastern United States, as well as in the Midwest and Great Plains regions. The last captive Carolina parakeet, named Incas, died at the Cincinnati Zoo on February 21, 1918.
Dire Wolf
Wolves of many different sorts were once far more abundant throughout the United States. Some still exist throughout certain regions but have since been extirpated from the Mid-Atlantic in particular. One wolf variety that has gone completely extinct, however, is the dire wolf.
The dire wolf roamed throughout the Americas between the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene epochs. Based on skeletal evidence, it was larger than the modern gray wolf and had larger, more robust teeth. Its massive head could grow up to 12 inches long. Yet the wolf went extinct somewhere around 10,000 years ago, most likely coinciding with the dying out of megafauna they so thrived on due to climate change.
Eastern Elk
Larger than today’s modern white-tailed deer population, the eastern elk was a subspecies of elk once abundant throughout most of North America. They could largely be found inhabiting forests in the Eastern Woodlands region and even as far west as the Mississippi.
The population diminished over time as more European settlers came to the New World, and overhunting became an issue. Naturalist John James Audubon made mention of the decline in 1851, stating that a few elk could still be found within the Allegheny Mountains but were otherwise gone from the area.
The last eastern elk was reportedly shot in Pennsylvania on September 1, 1877. The Species was officially declared extinct by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1880.
Giant Ground Sloths
You’ve probably heard a time or two that giant ground sloths roamed many regions throughout the Americas during the Ice Age. Two of the best-known species in North America were the megalonyx and paramylodon. The former could grow up to 10 feet long and weigh somewhere within the range of 2,200 pounds. It was distinguishable as having a block-like head, large claws, and an extra set of incisors. It was sometimes alternately referred to as “Jefferson’s ground sloth” after Thomas Jefferson first described megalonyx fossils in 1797.
The paramylodon, also known as the Harlan’s ground sloth, was furry, could be as tall as an elephant, and weighed as much as a small car. It had a short neck, robust chest, and massive jaws. Additionally, it sported three claws per hand and a protective coat of rough, brown fur.
Great Auk
Not too long ago, the Eastern Shore region of the Atlantic Coast sometimes played host to a now-extinct flightless bird that was surprisingly similar to the penguin. While the great auk was more prone to Northern Atlantic waters, it did occasionally make its way to the shores of Delaware and Maryland for breeding purposes long ago.
As of the mid-19th century, the great auk has been officially declared extinct. The reason is largely due to its having been overhunted.
Maryland Darter
Both its discovery and status as an extinct species are fairly recent. The freshwater ray-finned fish known as the “Maryland darter” was first discovered in 1912 in Swan Creek—a tributary of the Susquehanna River drainage basin close to Havre de Grace, Maryland. Due to its surprisingly limited range, it earned a reputation for having been one of the rarest freshwater fish species in the world. The last documented sighting of the Maryland darter was in 1988.
Passenger Pigeon
Once endemic and abundant throughout the United States, the passenger pigeon is another unique bird species that was lost to us a little over a century ago. Known to be a very fast flyer, it could reach speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mph). Its numbers may have at one time been as many as three to five billion, but it was largely hunted by Native Americans while its numbers were still robust. The population continued dwindling with the arrival of European settlers over time.
The last captive passenger pigeon, Martha, died in 1914. Interestingly enough, it was also at the Cincinnati Zoo in the very same cage that Incas, the last Carolina parakeet, died four years later.
The species featured here have all been officially declared extinct, but there are several other examples of creatures that aren’t extinct but rather extirpated from the Mid-Atlantic states. These include the gray wolf, Canadian Lynx, and several others. There is always hope for endangered species to make a comeback and even for extirpated ones to be reintroduced at some point in the future. The sad reality comes when a creature is completely lost to us, though. That is why Remembrance Day for Lost Species is so important.