The first species of mammal has been wiped out because of human-caused climate change.

The Bramble Cay melomys was an endemic species to the Great Barrier Reef and lived on a tiny island in the eastern Torres Strait off the coast of Queensland. Scientists from the University of Queensland and the Queensland Government led a survey in March 2014 that failed to find any evidence of the Bramble Cay melomys in their last known environment. The animals were last seen in 2009, according to records.

The study, first reported by the Guardian, concluded the habitat was destroyed following rising sea levels, resulting in the loss of 97 per cent of the animals' habitat.

Climate change plays a huge role in the possible extinction of certain species of animals. The WWF’s most recent State of the Planet Report in 2014 found that the largest reduction of species is in the tropics, where 63 per cent of wildlife has declined since 1970. The worst affected areas it found were central and South America, with a regional decline of 83 per cent. Species in Australia and New Zealand are also considered to be highly at risk as they have a high level of animals that are not found anywhere else in the world. Australia’s white lemuroid ringtail possum is also threatened by climate change. The species is vulnerable to temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, and would not be able to survive in this heat for more than four or five hours.

Professor Adrian M Lister, a researcher at the Natural History Museum’s Earth Sciences department, told The Independent that extinction from climate change is just the tip of the iceberg. “Habitats are being threatened and are disappearing due to drought and rising temperatures and sea levels caused by climate change. Normally species should be able to shift their ranges of where they can live in response to this. We have seen some insects and birds appearing in the UK that never were here before after shifting their range northwards where it’s cooler. However, human destruction of habitats often interferes with this, and for some animals that already live on the northernmost rims, they will have nowhere else to go, and that’s when they become seriously at risk.

“Some species have a limited geographic range and are not able to adapt. The world is changing at such a fast pace, that in most cases natural Darwinian selection would not happen in time, leading to extinction. It’s too late to stop some extinction; we know the majority of species are being reduced and some will become extinct over the next few decades. But we cannot just stop climate change and the world takes a long time to recover. There will be extinction, but there is still everything to play for and countries need to stick to their commitment from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, and even exceed it to help stop it.”

Paris climate talks in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Paris climate talks in pictures Paris climate talks in pictures A man is covered with a multi-coloured banner with the message, "Climate" as environmentalists attend a demonstration near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) that meets in Le Bourget, December 12, 2015 Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures French President Francois Hollande (C) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) applaud after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) speaks with China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua (R) and officials at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Delegates and members of NGO's read and work on copies of 'The adoption of the Paris agreement' is pictured after the announcement of the final draft by French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures UN climate chief Christiana Figueres (C) speaks with French President Francois Hollande (L), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures A Swiss Dominican priest poses with activists dressed as polar bears as activists gather for a demonstration to form a giant red line at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Activists hold up a giant banner reading 'Climate justice' by association 'ourpowercampaign' during a demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Representatives of indigenous peoples demonstrate in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Activists form a giant red line during a demonstration on the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images Paris climate talks in pictures The slogan "No Plan B" is projected on the Eiffel Tower as part of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris, France, December 11, 2015. Reuters

The Hainan gibbon is currently the world's rarest mammal, with only approximately 26 thought to be left in China's rainforests. But these animals could face extinction due to climate change, according to Dr Samuel Turvey, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Zoology. The gibbons live on a very small patch of a mountain rainforest, and any changes to this habitat caused by shifting climate changes could have grave repercussions for a species that has adapted to such a limited area.

But some experts think the effects of climate change could be worse. Dr Jonathan Bennie, research fellow at Exeter University, says: “There is lots of evidence showing we are living through a time of mass extinction, as life on Earth is being affected by humans to an unprecedented extent. The direct effects of climate change, such as wiping out low-lying habitats, will happen increasingly in the future."

In a study published in Nature, professor Chris Thomas estimated that by 2050, between 15 and 37 per cent of the world’s species could become committed to extinction due to climate change.

“Given the uncertainty about the rates of climate change and how rapidly we will be able to cut emissions, as well as how species will respond or adapt, these figures can only be taken as rough estimates,” adds Dr Bennie.

But Yadvinder Malhi, professor of ecosystem research at Oxford University, says climate change is not the most important factor in extinction as invasion from other species of plants and animals, and destruction of habitats, are the biggest causes of extinction. He said environments are fragmented already from other pressures and the effects of climate change are the remaining factor that pushes it over the edge, which has been evident in coral reef and island flooding.