what are the criteria for scientist to consider a species extinct? maybe they just didnt search enough, like given the vastness of earth there r probably areas still unexplored?
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A species is declared extinct in the wild after it isn’t observed on numerous surveys over a long period of time.
There is no exact criteria because some animals are certainly more elusive than others and more difficult to survey. It’s much easier to declare the Mastodon extinct than it would be to declare an obscure species of stick bug extinct.
One is a megafauna giant that dominates the landscape and can be easily recorded from an aerial survey, and the other is a camouflage master that can elude a survey repeatedly.
Sometimes “extinct” species do turn up in another survey, moving them back to “critically endangered” status. Again, usually a small and highly elusive animal that’s hard to track even when they’re doing well.
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