List of mammals from the British Isles extinct since the Late Pleistocene

This is a list of mammals of the British Isles extinct (either globally or locally extinct) since the beginning of the Late Pleistocene approximately 130,000 years ago, and also including animals extinct in the Holocene.

Taxa "†" denotes globally extinct species, "*" denotes introduced species that subsequently became extinct. Common nameSpeciesOrder and familyExtinction/extirpation dateNotes and referencesHippopotamusHippopotamus amphibiusArtiodactylac. 115,000 BPPresent during the Last (Eemian/Ipswichian) Interglacial. Survived elsewhere in Europe until around 40–30,000 years ago and still extant in Africa†Straight-tusked elephantPalaeoloxodon antiquusProboscidea: Elephantidaec. 87,000 BPPresent during the Last (Eemian/Ipswichian) Interglacial, and the early part of the Last Glacial Period. Survived elsewhere in Europe until around 40–30,000 years ago.†Narrow-nosed rhinocerosStephanorhinus hemitoechusPerissodactylac. 87,000 BPPresent during the Last (Eemian/Ipswichian) Interglacial, and the early part of the Last Glacial Period. Survived elsewhere in Europe until around 40–30,000 years ago.†NeanderthalHomo neanderthalensisPrimates: Hominidaec. 50,000 BPHave left some genetic traces in modern humans.†Cave lionPanthera spelaeaCarnivorac. 40,000 BPSurvived elsewhere until 14–13,000 years ago.†Woolly rhinocerosCoelodonta antiquitatisPerissodactylac. 35,000 BPSurvived elsewhere until at least 14,000 years ago†Cave hyenaCrocuta crocuta spelaeaCarnivorac. 32,000 BPPresent in both Britain and Ireland.†Scimitar-toothed catHomotherium latidensCarnivorac. 28,000 BPOnly unambiguous Late Pleistocene remains are a single specimen from the southern North Sea dating to c. 28,000 years ago.†Steppe bisonBison priscusArtiodactylac. 28,000 BPPolar bearUrsus maritimusCarnivorac. 18,000 BP†Woolly mammothMammuthus primigeniusProboscidea: Elephantidaec. 14,500–14,000 BP†Irish elkMegaloceros giganteusArtiodactylac. 12,000 BPReindeerRangifer tarandusArtiodactylac. 11,000 BPExtirpated in Ireland c. 7500 BC.Saiga antelopeSaiga tataricaArtiodactylac. 12,000 BPMuskoxOvibos moschatusArtiodactylaprior to 12000 BPWolverineGulo guloCarnivorac. 11,000 BPArctic lemmingDicrostonyx torquatusRodentiac. 10,000 BPSteppe lemmingLagurus lagurusRodentiac. 10,000 BPNarrow-headed voleMicrotus gregalisRodentiac. 10,000 BPSteppe pikaOchotona pusillaLagomorphac. 10,000 BPArctic foxVulpes lagopusCarnivorac. 10,000 BPWild horseEquus ferus ferusPerissodactylac. 10,000 BPRe-established proxy in the form of free-roaming domestic horsesMoose/elkAlces alcesArtiodactylac. 5600 BPRoot voleMicrotus oeconomusRodentiac. 1,500 BC†AurochsBos primigenius primigeniusArtiodactylac. 1000 BCSelect breeds of free-roaming domestic cattle are used as an ecological proxy as part of some conservation grazing initiatives.WalrusOdobenus rosmarusCarnivorac. 1000 BCExtirpated as a breeder; occasional vagrantBrown bearUrsus arctosCarnivorac. 500 c. 1000 – 500 BC in Ireland; see Bears in IrelandEurasian lynxLynx lynxCarnivorac. 700 or c. 1760Subfossil evidence suggests an early medieval extinction, but a written record indicates persistence in Scotland into the late 18th century.Wild boarSus scrofaArtiodactylac. 1400Reintroduced to Britain, extirpated from Ireland.Keuling, O. & Leus, K. 2019. Sus scrofa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T41775A44141833. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T41775A44141833.en. Downloaded on 26 August 2021.Eurasian beaverCastor fiberRodentia: Castoridae1526Reintroduced to Britain; never known to have lived in IrelandGrey wolfCanis lupusCarnivora17861166 in Wales, 1390 in England, 1680 in Scotland/Britain, 1786 in Ireland; see Wolves in Great Britain and Wolves in Ireland*MuskratOndatra zibethicusRodentia1937Introduced, non-native; eradicated in 1937.*Siberian roe deerCapreolus pygargusArtiodactyla1945Non-native, introduced in England from escapees in early 20th century; exterminated by 1945*CoypuMyocastor coypusRodentia1978Modern, introduced non-native; eradicated in Britain in 1978, introduced to Ireland in 2010.Greater mouse-eared batMyotis myotisChiroptera1990A solitary male was recorded at a single hibernation site in Sussex from 2002 to 2022. In 2023 two individuals were recorded in Sussex. Species is effectively extirpated, with no maternity sites found in the UK.

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