Bramble Cay Melomys
The Bramble Cay Melomys was a species of rodent native to the small coral cay of Bramble Cay in the Torres Strait of Australia. It was a small and solitary animal that spent its life on the ground, foraging for plants and seeds.
The Bramble Cay Melomys is the first mammal to be declared extinct due to climate change. Its habitat was destroyed by rising sea levels and storm surges, which wiped out its food source and its nesting grounds. Its tragic extinction is a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on our planet.
Bramble Cay Melomys
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
4 - 6 inches
(10 - 15 cm)
Average Weight
1 - 2 oz
(28 - 57 g)
Average Life Span
1 - 2 years
Gestation Period
25 - 28 days
Did You Know?
The Bramble Cay Melomys was a small rodent, about the size of a common house mouse.
It was the only mammal species endemic to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Bramble Cay Melomys lived exclusively on Bramble Cay, a small, low-lying island off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Its diet likely consisted of plants found on the cay, as well as possibly sea turtle eggs.
Sadly, the Bramble Cay Melomys was declared extinct in 2016, making it the first mammal extinction attributed to human-caused climate change.
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