The world's first mammal to become extinct because of human caused climate change is a small rodent native to Australia, according to a new report released this week.

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This creatures is known as the Bramble Cay melomys which can only be found on small sand covered island measuring only around 10 acres, located in the Great Barrier Reef between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Scientists suggest that these small mammals went extinct due to rising sea levels.

According to author of the study, Luke Leung from the University of Queensland, ocean waters have already inundated the low lying island several times in the past 10 years, which ultimately led to the disappearance of the melomys. The study also reveals how this dramatic habitat loss was mainly caused by ocean water that drowned the animals, as most of the island is measured around 10 feet above sea level.

Between August to September 2014, the team of scientists examined and conducted a survey of the island where they failed to detect any living specimen of the rodent. The last known sighting was by a fisherman that occurred in 2009.

This intensive study was carried out by the University of Queensland with the help of the Queensland state government, as researchers are still hoping that there is still a chance for survival of the species or even a close cousin might be hiding in its habitat or even in Papua New Guinea, however, there is no such recorded sighting yet.

Rising sea levels are caused by man made greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to warming temperatures that cause the melting of glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. Apart from this, water expands when it melts and becomes warmer which can take up more space, adding to global sea levels rising, according to NOAA.

Tagsfirst mammal extinct climate change, Climate Change, endangered species, Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Bramble Cay melomys