10 Extinct Animals That May Actually Still Be Alive Today

10 Extinct Animals That May Actually Still Be Alive Today

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The instance of animal species going extinct has to be one of the saddest things on the planet –
particularly when it’s at the hands of humankind. But some allegedly extinct animals are
believed to still exist by scientist. Today, we are looking at 10 such extinct animals that may
actually be alive! Let’s begin
Number 10. Coelacanth
Coelacanth belongs to an ancient lineage that has been around for more than 360 million years.
This scary bottom dwelling creature could reach more than six feet long and weigh about 200
pounds, and they're covered in thick, scaly armor. It's estimated they can live up to 60 years or
more. That is almost the same lifespan as the megalodon, which we will talk about in just a
while, so stick around till the end! Additionally, coelacanths possessed a hinged joint in their
skull, to allow them to open their mouth wider, and a rostral organ, both of which are
characteristics that are no longer found in vertebrates today. It was believed that coelacanth went
extinct, until it was found in 1938. Until then, they were presumed to have long perished in the
late Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago. But with port construction, bycatch, and
climate change, these ancient fish are again at risk of extinction.
Number 9. The Quagga
It’s thought that the quagga became extinct due to overhunting in 1883, but in 1984, genealogy
technology revealed that the quagga was actually a subspecies of the plains zebra, meaning it has
the same DNA. The two species share the same genotype, though their observable characteristics
are different. The Quagga Project was started to try to recreate the quagga through artificial

selection of plains zebras. The project has had some success: The first quagga-like zebra foal was
born in January 2005, and the fifth-generation foal was born in December 2013. Scientists hope
continued selective breeding will lead to generations of plains zebras almost identical to the
extinct quagga, which could then be released in the wild.
Number 8. The Moa
These giant, wingless birds were first seen when people first arrived at the islands of New
Zealand. They were very different from other flightless birds such as ostriches, emus, and
cassowaries due to the fact that they had no wings. They were extremely large birds, with the
biggest reaching up to 12 feet in height, easily the largest birds on the island. Unfortunately, due
to what many believe is overhunting by the early Maori people, these large, majestic birds went
extinct between the late 1300s and early 1500s. Or did they? In the 1940s, Australian painter and
bird enthusiast John Gould reported having seen what he described as “giant kiwis” in New
Zealand’s South Island. There was also a picture of a blurred huge bird that went viral.

Once, there was an article published that stated the Moa had been seen by hikers in 1993. There
were also photographs that hinted the bird still exists in the forests of New Zeeland, but no
concrete evidence has been found.Number 7. Short-faced bears
Bears are already too scary, but there is something else you need to know about their ancestors.
About a few hundred million years ago, it was the time of the short-faced bear: the largest bear
species that ever lived. They get their name from the shape of their heads: “Because they were
“short-faced,” these giant bears had a much stronger bite force than modern bears, even grizzlies.
Not just that, when they stood on just their two legs, these gigantic beasts could reach the height
of around 11 feet! The modern polar bears only grow up to 1,600 pounds, but their South
American cousins are likely to have tipped the scales at 3,500 pounds. Isn't that just crazy?
Native Americans say they have seen short-faced bears and believe they still exist. If they do, we
need to be really scared of them!
Number 6. Woolly Mammoth
The woolly mammoth lived during the Pleistocene epoch, about 2.5 million to 11 thousand years
ago. Its closest living relative is the Asian elephant. In the prehistoric animals’ world, the
mammoth is among the best studied. Its behaviors and physical makeup have been looked at
quite extensively in comparison to other extinct species. This is all thanks to the discovery of its
preserved remains in places like Siberia and Alaska. Researchers have also been able to find its
teeth, skeleton, and even both stomach content and dung. Considering such a wealth of
information,