The melomys species was endemic to the Great Barrier Reef, and was also the only mammal species found on the reef. The species' existence was theoretically a wondrous example of natural selection, because of its uniqueness. It was found only on Bramble Cay- a small coral cay, just 340 m. long and 150 m. wide off the north coast of Queensland, Australia, which sits at most 3m above sea level. This tiny pocket of its habitat made it an isolated mammal species, but gave it enough leverage to flourish: when its existence was first recorded in 1845, the island was well-populated with the rodent, and sailors reported they shot the “large rats" with bows and arrows. As of 1978, it was estimated there were several hundred of the mammal on the small island.
However, there was no sighting of the mammal since 2009, leading to an extensive search in 2014 to ascertain its existence, led by Ian Gynther from Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, and in partnership with the University of Queensland. No findings and research into the vegetation led to the conclusion that the species had been driven into extinction due to a steep rise in sea level. Consequently, the island was inundated on multiple occasions killing the animals and destroying their habitat. The melomys lost 97% of its habitat in just 10 years.
While IUCN is in conversation of updating the melomys' conservation status from endangered to extinct, researchers are pinning their hopes onto Papua New Guinea, in the hope that some of these animals may just be found on the island. This is the first recorded instance of a mammal species being lost directly due to human-caused climate change. Researchers said, in their report, that the melomys was driven to extinction due “solely (or primarily) to anthropogenic climate change". Statistically, in the past century, the sea level has risen by nearly 20 cm., something which has not been seen in past 6000 years. The extinction of the melomys is only the first in many other cases of extinction, unless more proactive measures are taken.
Sources:
Queensland Government - Department of Heritage and Environment Protection
