This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
It’s October 31 and around the country children are dressing up as ghosts, vampires, zombies and Minions.
Meanwhile, wildlife species around the world face a different specter: the risk of extinction. Some have already passed across the veil to the other side.
“Extinction Countdown” has covered quite a few of these species over the years. Here are a few tales to get you in the Halloween spirit:
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Giving Up On the “Ghost Cat”: Eastern Cougar Subspecies Declared Extinct
Halloween Horrors: The Ghost Bat (aka the False Vampire Bat)
Photo by Wendel Fisher. Used under Creative Commons license