Extinct Animals

An extinct animal is a species that has completely died out. No more of them are alive anywhere on Earth. Dinosaurs are the most famous extinct animals. Extinction has happened many times throughout Earth's history.

Famous Extinct Animals

Dinosaurs went extinct about 66 million years ago after an asteroid hit Earth. The dodo bird went extinct in the 1600s because of hunting. The woolly mammoth disappeared about 4,000 years ago. The passenger pigeon went extinct in 1914.

Preventing Extinction

Scientists study endangered animals to prevent more extinctions. Breeding programs help increase animal numbers. Protecting habitats gives animals safe places to live. Everyone can help by taking care of the environment.

Fun Facts

• About 99 percent of all species that ever lived on Earth are now extinct.
• The dodo bird lived only on the island of Mauritius and went extinct in less than 100 years after humans arrived.
• Some scientists are trying to bring back the woolly mammoth using preserved DNA.

Did You Know?

There have been five major mass extinctions in Earth's history. The biggest one, about 252 million years ago, wiped out about 96 percent of all ocean species!