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Rainforest extinction revealed by Queensland mice fossils

The fossils of two extinct mice species have been found at cave sites by University of Queensland ecologists tracking environmental changes across the state’s northern tropics.

The bones of Webb’s short-tailed mouse (Leggadina webbi) were found at Mount Etna near Rockhampton, and fossilised remains of Irvin’s short-tailed mouse (Leggadina irvini) were discovered near Chillagoe at the base of Cape York Peninsula.

The species have been named after UQ palaeontologist Gregory Webb and the study’s caving guide Douglas Irvin, who is also a keen citizen scientist. Details of the discovery are published online in the journal PeerJ.

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