Bramble Cay Melomys Colouring

The Bramble Cay melomys, Melomys rubicola, was a small native rodent known only from Bramble Cay in the far northeastern Torres Strait of Queensland, Australia. This low coral cay lies close to Papua New Guinea and is only a few hectares in size. The melomys had a rounded body, short brownish fur, small rounded ears and a long tail with visible scales. It hid and fed among low herbaceous plants, sharing the cay with nesting green turtles and seabirds. Because its entire confirmed world population occupied one tiny island, even a single severe change could affect every animal. Scientists estimated about 93 individuals in 1998, but only small numbers were trapped in 2002 and 2004. Its precise natural lifespan was never established. The last individual was reported in 2009, and it was not named. Searches between 2009 and 2013 found none. A thorough 2014 survey used hundreds of trap-nights, cameras and daytime searches but detected no melomys. During the same period, nearly all of the cay's plant cover had disappeared. Government assessments concluded that repeated high water, storms and ocean inundation caused major habitat loss and probably direct deaths. Rising sea level and stronger extreme-water events linked to human-caused climate change were identified as the key driver. Australia later listed the species as extinct. Claims that another population might occur in Papua New Guinea have not been confirmed. Colour the melomys with warm cinnamon, sandy brown, grey-brown or soft rust, leaving the belly pale cream. Its ears can be light pink inside and the tail can alternate gentle brown and beige bands. Use blue or turquoise for the sea, pale gold for the sand and green for the creeping island plants. The shells may be peach, lavender or yellow. Short pencil strokes will create soft fur, while small curved strokes can follow the tail scales. Keep the animal darker than the beach but lighter than a black rat. Notice how the simple background tells an important story: this tiny mammal depended on a very small patch of vegetation surrounded by the sea.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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