An endling is the name given to an individual animal that is the last of its species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

. Once the endling dies, the species becomes extinct.

"On 7 September 1936 an endling died in Hobart Zoo. In 1936, this endling was ‘Benjamin’ (probably actually a female), the last thylacine

Thylacine

The thylacine or ,also ;binomial name: Thylacinus cynocephalus, Greek for "dog-headed pouched one") was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger or the Tasmanian wolf...

, or Tasmanian tiger."

The Quagga

Quagga

The quagga is an extinct subspecies of the plains zebra, which was once found in great numbers in South Africa's Cape Province and the southern part of the Orange Free State. It was distinguished from other zebras by having the usual vivid marks on the front part of the body only...

 became extinct in the wild in the late 1870s, and the species endling died in captivity on August 12, 1883 at the Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam.
One example of an endling is Lonesome George, who is the last known individual of the Pinta Island Giant Tortoise subspecies.

External links

• Cut from history by Eric Freedman for Knight Center for Environmental Journalism