From the haunting howl of the Tasmanian Tiger to the lost colours of the Paradise Parrot, these 10 extinct Australian animals tell a sobering story of what we’ve lost — and why we must protect what remains. These extinct Australian animals are part of our wild, tragic history. Let’s honour their memory — and protect those still hanging on.

Extinct Australian Animals

1. Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) — Thylacinus cynocephalus

• Extinct: Officially declared extinct in 1936.
• Habitat: Tasmania (formerly mainland Australia and New Guinea).
• Details: A carnivorous marsupial with dog-like features and stripes along its back. It was the largest known carnivorous marsupial in modern times.

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2. Toolache Wallaby — Macropus greyi

• Extinct: Last confirmed sighting in the 1920s.
• Habitat: Southeastern South Australia and southwestern Victoria.
• Details: Graceful and elegant with a sleek build and striking markings. Hunted and impacted by habitat loss.

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3. King Island Emu — Dromaius

• Extinct: Around 1805.
• Habitat: King Island, between Tasmania and mainland Australia.
• Details: A dwarf emu species, smaller than the mainland emu. Hunted to extinction within a few years of European arrival.

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4. Bramble Cay Melomys — Melomys rubicola

• Extinct: Declared extinct in 2016.
• Habitat: Bramble Cay, a tiny coral island in the Torres Strait.
• Details: First recorded mammal extinction due to human-induced climate change — rising sea levels destroyed its habitat.

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5. Desert Rat-kangaroo — Caloprymnus campestris

• Extinct: Last seen in the 1930s.
• Habitat: Arid central Australia.
• Details: Small, solitary marsupial adapted to desert life. Extremely elusive; known from very few specimens.

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6. Paradise Parrot — Psephotellus pulcherrimus

• Extinct: Last confirmed sighting in 1927.
• Habitat: Southeastern Queensland.
• Details: A brilliantly coloured parrot with a bright blue and red plumage. Habitat destruction and overgrazing led to its demise.

Read more about Aussie animals: Dangerous Australian Animals

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7. Christmas Island Forest Skink — Emoia nativitatis

• Extinct: Declared extinct in 2017.
• Habitat: Christmas Island.
• Details: The last known individual, nicknamed “Gump,” died in captivity in 2014. Invasive species and habitat loss were major causes.

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8. Broad-faced Potoroo — Potorous platyops

• Extinct: The species is presumed to have become extinct sometime after the last recorded capture of the animal in 1875, and sometime before 1905.
• Habitat: Likely southwest Western Australia.
• Details: Little is known about this small marsupial. It was one of the first Australian mammals to go extinct post-European settlement.

What do you know about quolls? Learn more: Quolls in Australia: cute, cuddly and carnivorous

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9. Northern Gastric-brooding Frog — Rheobatrachus vitellinus

• Extinct: Last seen in the early 1980s.
• Habitat: Queensland rainforests.
• Details: Gave birth through its mouth! The female would swallow fertilised eggs and give birth via her stomach. One of only two known gastric-brooding frogs.

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10. Diprotodon — Diprotodon optatum

• Extinct: Around 40,000 years ago.
• Habitat: Across mainland Australia.
• Details: The largest marsupial ever to live — like a giant wombat. Part of Australia’s megafauna, likely wiped out by climate change and early human hunting.

Say ‘No’ to More Extinct Australian Animals

Australia has already lost over 100 unique species since European settlement—precious creatures that once roamed our land and skies, now gone forever. Each extinction is not just the loss of an animal, but the silencing of a story, a piece of our natural heritage erased. Yet, the fate of the species that remain is still in our hands. By protecting habitats, supporting conservation efforts, and standing up for vulnerable wildlife, we can choose a different path—one where future generations marvel at living animals, not just faded illustrations in history books. The time to care, to act, and to protect is now, before more voices of the wild fall silent.