The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has identified 23 species it says are now extinct. The agency released a list Wednesday that includes 11 birds, eight freshwater mussels, two species of fish, a bat and a plant. Most of the species had been found in states in the southeastern U.S. Eleven species lived in Hawaii or Guam. Perhaps the best known species on the list is the ivory-billed woodpecker. There had been unconfirmed sightings of the bird over the past 20 years. That led to search operations in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. But none of the woodpeckers were found. Other species on the list had only been identified in the wild a few times and never seen again. One example is the flat pigtoe, a freshwater mussel found in Alabama and Mississippi. In such cases, the species likely started disappearing shortly after being discovered. In declaring a species extinct, the Fish and Wildlife Service removes it from its Endangered Species Act (ESA). The purpose of the ESA is to call attention to species with the greatest need for protection. The agency said the identifications came after officials carried out “rigorous” investigations based on “the best available science for each of these species.” The declarations will become final after a three-month public comment period. All 23 species were thought to have at least a small chance of survival when added to the ESA list. Only 11 species have been previously removed because of extinction in the nearly half-century since the ESA was signed into law. The Fish and Wildlife Service warned that climate change, combined with other environmental pressures, could make such disappearances more common. As an example, it said nearly 3 billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970. “These extinctions highlight the need to take action to prevent further losses,” the agency said in a statement. Around the world, about 900 species have been documented as extinct. The actual number, however, is thought to be much higher because some are never officially identified. Many scientists have warned that the planet is in an “extinction crisis,” with plants and animals disappearing at 1,000 times the historical rate.
Title: US Fish and Wildlife Service Declares 23 Species Extinct
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/C.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='US Fish and Wildlife Service Declares 23 Species Extinct' data-article-id='5887'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='13375'>The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has identified 23 species it says are now extinct.</span> <span data-start-time='13375' data-end-time='28875'>The agency released a list Wednesday that includes 11 birds, eight freshwater mussels, two species of fish, a bat and a plant. </span> <span data-start-time='28875' data-end-time='37042'>Most of the species had been found in states in the southeastern U.S. </span> <span data-start-time='37042' data-end-time='42250'>Eleven species lived in Hawaii or Guam.</span> <span data-start-time='42250' data-end-time='50563'>Perhaps the best known species on the list is the ivory-billed woodpecker. </span> <span data-start-time='50563' data-end-time='58250'>There had been unconfirmed sightings of the bird over the past 20 years. </span> <span data-start-time='58250' data-end-time='68167'>That led to search operations in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. </span> <span data-start-time='68167' data-end-time='72625'>But none of the woodpeckers were found.</span> <span data-start-time='72625' data-end-time='83771'>Other species on the list had only been identified in the wild a few times and never seen again.</span> <span data-start-time='83771' data-end-time='93688'>One example is the flat pigtoe, a freshwater mussel found in Alabama and Mississippi. </span> <span data-start-time='93688' data-end-time='103229'>In such cases, the species likely started disappearing shortly after being discovered.</span> <span data-start-time='103229' data-end-time='114146'>In declaring a species extinct, the Fish and Wildlife Service removes it from its Endangered Species Act (ESA). </span> <span data-start-time='114146' data-end-time='123938'>The purpose of the ESA is to call attention to species with the greatest need for protection.</span> <span data-start-time='123938' data-end-time='140417'>The agency said the identifications came after officials carried out “rigorous” investigations based on “the best available science for each of these species.” </span> <span data-start-time='140417' data-end-time='148104'>The declarations will become final after a three-month public comment period.</span> <span data-start-time='148104' data-end-time='159375'>All 23 species were thought to have at least a small chance of survival when added to the ESA list. </span> <span data-start-time='159375' data-end-time='172646'>Only 11 species have been previously removed because of extinction in the nearly half-century since the ESA was signed into law.</span> <span data-start-time='172646' data-end-time='186896'>The Fish and Wildlife Service warned that climate change, combined with other environmental pressures, could make such disappearances more common. </span> <span data-start-time='186896' data-end-time='197063'>As an example, it said nearly 3 billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970.</span> <span data-start-time='197063' data-end-time='208104'>“These extinctions highlight the need to take action to prevent further losses,” the agency said in a statement.</span> <span data-start-time='208104' data-end-time='215667'>Around the world, about 900 species have been documented as extinct. </span> <span data-start-time='215667' data-end-time='225208'>The actual number, however, is thought to be much higher because some are never officially identified. </span> <span data-start-time='225208' data-end-time='240313'>Many scientists have warned that the planet is in an “extinction crisis,” with plants and animals disappearing at 1,000 times the historical rate.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/C.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=18096 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/what_is_a_species.wav'>What is a species?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/a_group_of_living_organisms_consisting_of_similar_individuals.wav'><span>a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/a_dish_not_on_the_regular_menu_at_a_restaurant_but_served_on_a_particular_day.wav'><span>a dish not on the regular menu at a restaurant but served on a particular day</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/the_rate_at_which_someone_or_something_is_able_to_move_or_operate.wav'><span>the rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/a_bad_temper.wav'><span>a bad temper</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=18097 data-hint-location='13375' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/according_to_the_article_how_many_species_of_birds_were_identified_as_extinct_by_the_us_fish_and_wildlife_service.wav'>According to the article, how many species of birds were identified as extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='11'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/1000.wav'><span>1,000</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/11.wav'><span>11</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/10.wav'><span>10</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/23.wav'><span>23</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=18098 data-hint-location='172646' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/the_fish_and_wildlife_service_warned_that_climate__blank__combined_with_other_environmental_pressures_could_make_such_disappearances_more_common_.wav'>The Fish and Wildlife Service warned that climate <span class='blank'>change</span>, combined with other environmental pressures, could make such disappearances more common. </div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='change'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/change.wav'><span>change</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/grease.wav'><span>grease</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/ruler.wav'><span>ruler</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5331/pennies.wav'><span>pennies</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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