List of amphibians and reptiles either known or thought to have become extinct since 1600

Abstract

At least two amphibian and 28 reptile taxa are considered to have become extinct since 1600. Almost all of them were island forms and were heavily exploited by man until their number was so low that it no longer paid to hunt them. In connection with the exploitation of the island fauna and flora, man brought with him various domestic animals. Some of them—cats, dogs, goats and pigs—became feral thus creating, together with introduced rats and mice, another serious threat to endemic animals. The deliberate introduction of the mongoose into the many islands of the West Indies amounted to a critical threat to forms which were not affected because of their economic value. At least in one case, mongoose were introduced into an island especially on purpose to get rid of the iguana and snakes. Man has also directly affected the existence of some forms by destruction of habitat and by shooting them for ‘sport’.