Terming Neanderthals “extinct” may be as erroneous as saying that certain native American tribes are extinct. In that instance, there was no extinction, they merged into a new population via interbreeding and ceased being distinct due to genetic swamping. That’s a far cry from extinct, which carries connotation of being killed off or dying out rather than being bred into a hybrid.
I agree with your logic on “extinct”. But that is how they are described in anthropological books. So I guess I was in that rut.
“ceased being distinct due to genetic swamping.”
Very succinct; thank you.