Most species that ever lived on Earth are now extinct, with the planet having experienced at least five mass extinction events. Live Science brings you expert coverage of extinction as researchers uncover fossils and gain new insights into ancient animals — and track the sixth mass extinction event that appears to have begun.
So whether you're after facts about dodos and dinosaurs, curious about extinct animals that could be brought back to life, or want to know what living animals could be gone by 2050, our writers and editors have you covered with the news, features and articles about extinct species.
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Latest about Extinct Species
'Red flags' raised over ancient sea monster pulled from Moroccan mine
A mosasaur species with saw-like teeth that was described by scientists in 2021 may have been based on forged fossils, and researchers are now calling for CT scans to determine the creature's origin.
230 million-year-old dinosaur is oldest ever discovered in North America — and changes what we know about how they conquered Earth
A newfound "chicken-size" dinosaur, recently unearthed in Wyoming, changes what paleontologists thought they knew about how dinosaurs spread across the globe.
Weird bumps in UK quarry turn out to be 166 million-year-old dinosaur 'highway' for some of Jurassic's biggest dinosaurs
Researchers have excavated the largest dinosaur footprint site in the U.K. after a quarry worker found tracks left by two of Britain's biggest Jurassic dinosaurs.
A sea monster with its head on its butt? 10 times we were completely wrong about dinosaur-age creatures
Humans have a long history of misinterpreting ancient fossils. Here are 10 creatures from the dinosaur age that looked way different than we thought.
270 million-year-old saber-toothed predator from 'ghost' lineage looked like a bald dog
Fossils of the oldest saber-toothed predator are helping researchers understand the evolution of early mammal relatives called gorgonopsians and our shared origins in the therapsid group.
Most expensive dinosaur skeleton ever now on display in New York City
'Apex,' one of the most complete stegosaurus fossils ever found, is on display at the American Museum of Natural History.
Dinosaur puke and poop help reveal how they took over the world
Fossilized digestive material offers unparalleled insights into the dinosaurs' diets, feeding behaviors and parasites.
Largest dinosaur ever auctioned sells for over $6 million — and it's twice as long as a school bus
A 70-foot-long Apatosaurus skeleton, named Vulcan, recently became the biggest dinosaur fossil ever sold when it was acquired for around $6.4 million at an auction in France. The sizable remains weigh more than 22 tons.
