UNESCO BiosphereHistorical Records

Not Seen Recently

Species that were recorded on the Isle of Man between 1960 and 1990 but have not been reported since 2000. These may be locally extinct, extremely rare, or simply under-recorded.

This page highlights species that once had a presence in our biodiversity records but have dropped off in recent decades. Some may still be present but undetected — others may have genuinely disappeared from the island. Re-finding any of these species would be a significant contribution to Manx natural history.

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Species Groups

Total Species

1960–1990

First Recorded

≤ 2000

Last Seen

How to read this page

Each section below shows a species group (e.g. birds, insects, plants) and lists up to 5 species that were recorded between 1960–1990 but not seen since 2000. Species are ranked by total historical record count — those with more records were better-documented before they disappeared from surveys. Click the Wikipedia icon for identification, or the map icon to see where they were recorded.

🐸

Amphibians

1 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last	Links
1	(Great or Northern) Crested Newt Triturus cristatus	A large, warty-skinned newt with a jagged crest, typically found in ponds and wetlands during the breeding season.	2	1972	1981

🔍

Animalia

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Punctate Cribrilina bryozoan Cribrilina punctata	A colonial bryozoan forming encrusting patches on seaweeds and rocks in shallow marine habitats.	67	1987	1999
2	orange pipe calcareous sponge Leucosolenia botryoides	A small, tubular calcareous sponge with a distinctive orange hue, found attached to rocks in shallow coastal waters.	31	1977	1992
3	Baiser Oncorhynchus mykiss	Also known as rainbow trout, this freshwater fish is recognised by its pinkish stripe and spotted body.	22	1961	2000
4	Banded Grass Snake Natrix helvetica	A non-venomous snake with olive-green colouring and a distinctive yellow collar, often found near water.	13	1964	1979
5	Barnstickle Pungitius pungitius	A small stickleback fish with nine spines, inhabiting freshwater ponds, ditches, and slow-moving streams.	11	1972	1991

🔍

Animals

2 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last	Links
1	Clonal Plumose Anemone Metridium senile	A sea anemone with feathery tentacles, forming dense clonal colonies on rocks and artificial structures in marine environments.	19	1977	1998
2	Broad Sea Fan Eunicella verrucosa	A slow-growing, pinkish sea fan with broad, flattened branches, found attached to rocky seabeds.	2	1977	1977

🔍

Arachnids

3 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	sand wolf spider Arctosa perita	A robust wolf spider with sandy coloration, typically found in dunes and other dry, open habitats.	6	1989	1992
2	Dimple-clawed Chthonid Ephippiochthonius tetrachelatus	A tiny, cryptic pseudoscorpion with dimpled claws, usually found under stones or within leaf litter.	3	1980	1996
3	No widely accepted common name; a jumping spider species Euophrys frontalis	A small jumping spider found in leaf litter and low vegetation, recognized by its agile movements and distinctive eye pattern.	2	1989	1996

🐦

Birds

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina	The Icterine Warbler is a migratory songbird, notable for its yellowish plumage and melodious song, often found in woodland edges.	26	1967	1999
2	Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus	The Balearic Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird, often seen gliding low over the sea and recognized for its dark brown plumage.	19	1968	1994
3	Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides	The Greenish Warbler is a small, greenish-grey songbird, typically inhabiting woodland and scrub during migration.	16	1966	1993
4	Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus	The Rough-legged Buzzard is a large raptor with feathered legs, often seen hovering over open countryside in winter.	15	1963	1997
5	Eurasian tawny owl Strix aluco	The Eurasian tawny owl is a nocturnal bird of prey, recognized by its rounded head and classic hooting call in woodlands.	8	1961	1997

🌱

Bryophytes

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Curled Hook-moss Palustriella commutata	Curled Hook-moss is a bright green moss forming dense mats in wet habitats such as springs, streams, and marshes.	3	1968	1999
2	Hampe's Threadwort Cephaloziella hampeana	Hampe's Threadwort is a tiny liverwort, typically found in damp, acidic soils or on decaying wood in shaded habitats.	3	1968	1998
3	Sickle-leaved Hook-moss Sanionia uncinata	Sickle-leaved Hook-moss is a moss with curved leaves, commonly growing on rocks and soil in moist, shaded environments.	2	1968	1998
4	Common Pottia Tortula truncata	Common Pottia is a small, tufted moss with blunt-tipped leaves, often found on bare soil or disturbed ground.	2	1968	1998
5	Common Bladder-moss Physcomitrium pyriforme	A small moss with pear-shaped capsules, typically found in damp, disturbed soils and bare ground.	2	1968	1968

🔬

Chromista

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Lesser celandine downy mildew Peronospora ficariae	A downy mildew fungus infecting lesser celandine, causing yellowish spots and fuzzy growth on leaves.	11	1975	1994
2	Sunflower White Rust Pustula tragopogonis	A white rust pathogen affecting sunflower relatives, producing white pustules on leaves and stems.	4	1970	1994
3	Lepigoni White Rust Albugo lepigoni	A white rust fungus infecting Lepigoni plants, forming white blisters on foliage.	4	1973	1994
4	Lettuce Downy Mildew Bremia lactucae	A downy mildew that targets lettuce, causing pale patches and a greyish fungal coating on leaves.	4	1970	1976
5	Spinach Downy Mildew Peronospora affinis	A downy mildew infecting spinach, recognizable by yellow leaf spots and a downy growth underneath.	2	1970	1970

🦀

Crustaceans

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Cranch's nut crab Ebalia cranchii	A small, rounded crab found in sandy and muddy seabeds, notable for its nut-like carapace.	97	1963	2000
2	Rosy Woodlouse Androniscus dentiger	A pinkish woodlouse often found in damp, shaded habitats such as under stones or logs.	14	1969	1995
3	Saeroe woodlouse Trichoniscoides saeroeensis	A tiny, pale woodlouse inhabiting moist environments, often in leaf litter or under rocks.	7	1982	1995
4	American Signal Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus	An invasive crayfish species with large claws and a white patch, typically found in freshwater streams and ponds.	2	1987	1987
5	Thumbnail Crab Thia scutellata	The Thumbnail Crab is a small, flattened marine crab often found buried in sandy or muddy seabeds.	2	1963	1963

🔍

FloweringPlants

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Dense-Flowered Orchid Neotinea maculata	Dense-Flowered Orchid is a rare, small orchid with tightly clustered pale flowers, typically found in calcareous grasslands.	17	1966	1985
2	Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata	Meadow Saxifrage is a delicate white-flowered perennial that grows in meadows and grassy banks.	14	1975	1996
3	Martagon Lilium martagon	Martagon is a striking lily with whorled leaves and pink, turk's-cap shaped flowers, often found in woodland habitats.	11	1975	1998
4	Abraham-Isaac-Jacob Trachystemon orientale	Abraham-Isaac-Jacob is a robust perennial with blue star-shaped flowers, commonly growing in damp, shady places.	11	1965	1995
5	Water Violet Hottonia palustris	Water Violet is an aquatic plant with feathery submerged leaves and pale lilac flower spikes, found in ponds and slow-moving water.	10	1988	1999

🔍

Fungi

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Common Lecanora Lecanora conizaeoides	Common Lecanora is a crustose lichen frequently seen on tree bark and acidic rocks.	37	1973	1997
2	Alexanders Rust Puccinia smyrnii	Alexanders Rust is a rust fungus that infects Alexanders plants, producing orange-brown pustules on leaves and stems.	20	1970	1994
3	Krieger's Milesina Rust Milesina kriegeriana	Krieger's Milesina Rust is a fungal parasite that affects ferns, causing yellowish spots on fronds.	17	1974	1994
4	Powdery Mildew (on cucurbits) Podosphaera fusca	Powdery Mildew (on cucurbits) is a fungal pathogen forming white powdery patches on leaves of cucurbit plants.	15	1976	1976
5	Plantain Mildew Golovinomyces sordidus	A mildew fungus that infects plantain leaves, forming powdery white patches on the surface.	14	1972	1976

🔍

Insects

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Black Sedge Caddisfly Athripsodes aterrimus	A black caddisfly species found near streams and ponds, its larvae build protective cases from plant material.	18	1984	1994
2	Dark Blue Ground Beetle Bembidion atrocaeruleum	A small, dark blue ground beetle often seen in sandy riverbanks and wet habitats.	18	1989	1989
3	Mannerheim's Ground Beetle Bembidion mannerheimii	A ground beetle with metallic sheen, typically inhabiting moist environments and river margins.	16	1988	1998
4	Dock Weevil Rhinoncus pericarpius	A dock weevil that feeds on dock and sorrel plants, recognized by its elongated snout.	16	1989	1996
5	Marine Aepus Beetle Aepus marinus	A tiny marine beetle found in intertidal zones, often under stones and seaweed along the shore.	16	1989	1989

🐌

Molluscs

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Faroe sunset shell Gari fervensis	A bivalve mollusc known as the Faroe sunset shell, inhabiting sandy and muddy coastal seabeds.	55	1966	1998
2	Contracted glass-snail Vitrea contracta	A small, translucent snail with a flattened shell, found in leaf litter and damp woodland.	15	1968	1998
3	Long-toothed Herald Snail Carychium tridentatum	A minute snail with a long, toothed aperture, commonly found in moist habitats and leaf litter.	14	1968	1998
4	Great Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis	The largest British pond snail, easily identified by its tall shell and preference for still freshwater habitats.	13	1975	1984
5	brown hive snail Euconulus alderi	A small brown land snail found in leaf litter and damp woodland habitats.	10	1989	1989

🔍

Myriapods

1 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last	Links
1	No widely accepted common name (a soil centipede) Geophilus seurati	A slender soil centipede, typically inhabiting moist earth and under stones.	2	1961	1961

🔍

Plantae

4 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Crinal gelidium (red seaweed) Gelidium crinale	A red seaweed with fine, wiry branches, commonly found on rocky shores.	3	1974	1974
2	Dotted Hornwort Anthoceros punctatus	A hornwort with dark green thallus and dotted spore capsules, thriving in damp soils.	2	1968	1999
3	Alaria Acrochaetium Red Alga Acrochaetium alariae	A minute red alga growing epiphytically on larger seaweeds in marine environments.	2	1980	1980
4	Moss-like hypnea Hypnea musciformis	A moss-like red seaweed with branching, wiry fronds, inhabiting shallow coastal waters.	2	1977	1977

🔍

Protozoa

5 species

#	Species	Description	Records	First	Last
1	Black Slime Mold Comatricha nigra	A black slime mold forming tiny, dark fruiting bodies on decaying wood.	9	1976	1994
2	Grape Cluster Slime Mold Trichia botrytis	A slime mold producing grape-like clusters of sporangia on rotting logs.	6	1976	1994
3	No widely accepted common name (a slime mold species) Didymium squamulosum	A slime mold with small, white, scaly fruiting bodies found on decaying plant material.	5	1976	1994
4	No widely accepted common name (a slime mold) Physarum album	A slime mold forming pale, rounded fruiting bodies on decomposing wood and leaf litter.	5	1976	1994
5	Minute Echinostelium Slime Mold Echinostelium minutum	A tiny slime mold forming minute fruiting bodies, typically found on decaying wood or leaf litter in moist environments.	3	1976	1994

Have you seen any of these species?

If you've recorded any of these species on the Isle of Man in recent years, your sighting could be incredibly valuable. Please log it on NBN Atlas IoM or iRecord to update the scientific record.

NBN Atlas IoM iRecord

Methodology

Data sourced from the species_summary table (aggregated from 1.49 million GBIF/NBN Atlas records). Criteria: first recorded after 1960, first recorded before 1990, last recorded in 2000 or earlier, minimum 2 historical records. Top 5 species per group ranked by record count. Species descriptions generated by AI. Generated 25/03/2026.

Trends & Analysis

Population trends over time

Conservation

Protected species & habitats

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