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swagmoose | 4 months ago

I think I knew this deep down, but I am curious if there's "extinct (with the usual disclaimers)" and "extinct (it ain't comin back)". i.e. the Christmas Island Shrew vs. the Dodo

discuss

order

JKCalhoun|4 months ago

Maybe the difference between the Dodo and the Christmas Island Shrew is 350 years.

Which is to say, the certainty of the Dodo's extinction is related to how long we've not seen one.

Every year that passes then without the shrew will be to underscore its extinction, I suppose. Sad.

analog31|4 months ago

I have a feeling that it depends to some extent on the organism. It would be hard for a breeding pair of Dodo's to hide for very long, whereas a colony of little shrews could creep around in the bushes without notice. "Last seen on X date" would cover both cases.