Scientists identify the first mammal to go extinct due to man-made climate change
The Bramble Cay melomy is no more.
The small rat-like rodent is believed to be the first mammal to have gone extinct primarily due to man-made climate change, according to researchers that spoke with The Guardian. The only endemic mammal to the Great Barrier Reef, the melomy is believed to be just the start of what could be a massive die-off of species around the world due to climate change.
The primary cause of the melomy's extinction is blamed on rising sea-levels; the ocean inundated the island the rodents lived on, which both killed them and destroyed their habitat. Last seen in 2009, no melomy has been sighted since despite exhaustive searches.
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"Certainly, extinction and climatic change has gone hand in hand throughout the history of the world," ecologist John White told The Guardian. "So, if this is one of the first, it is more than likely not going to be the last."
Only one other mammal is believed to have had climate change contribute to its extinction — the Little Swan Island hutia. However, invasive cats were the primary reason it died out.
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