Extinct Organisms

Definition

Extinct organisms are species that no longer exist anywhere on Earth.

Analogy

Imagine if all copies and recordings of your favorite song suddenly disappeared forever - you could never listen to it again. That's similar to extinction; once a species goes extinct, we can't bring it back.

Related terms

Endangered Species: These are species that aren't extinct yet but their populations are so low they're at risk for extinction.

Biodiversity Loss: This refers to the decrease in variety and variability among living organisms including diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity), and between ecosystems (ecosystem diversity).

Mass Extinction Event: An event during which many species become extinct over a relatively short period due to catastrophic global events or rapid environmental change.