Bramble Cay melomys: Climate change-ravaged rodent listed as extinct

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Bramble Cay melomys: Climate change-ravaged rodent listed as extinct

20 February 2019

It was described in 2016 as the first mammalian extinction caused by human-induced climate change.

Now the eradication of the Bramble Cay melomys has been officially recognised by Australia, its only known home.

The rodent lived solely on a tiny sand island in the Torres Strait, near the coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The species has not been seen since 2009.

Scientists say there is a chance that an identical or similar species could yet be discovered in PNG.

But they're uncertain because PNG's nearby Key River region has been little documented by research.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47300992


The Bramble Cay melomys lived on a tiny island in Australia's far north (Ian Bell/EHP)

[Kurt V.]

1. i find this so sad