Hold onto your lab coats, nature lovers! Australian scientists just dropped a furry bombshell: the delicate mouse, once thought to be a single species, is actually **three genetically distinct rodents** living across the continent. 🔬🇦🇺
From One to Three 🌏
Using cutting-edge DNA tech, researchers at ANU and CSIRO discovered these pint-sized cuties (maxing out at 7.5cm!) have evolved separately for millions of years. Meet the new crew:
🇦🇺 Western delicate mouse
🇦🇺 Eastern delicate mouse
🇦🇺 Northern delicate mouse
Why This Matters 🌿
Lead researcher Emily Roycroft told us: \"This changes everything for conservation. We’ve been protecting them like one big family when they’re actually cousins with different needs!\" 🚨
These OG Aussie survivors have thrived everywhere from deserts to forests for 5 million years – but now face competition from invasive rats and house mice. 🐀 vs 🐭 = not a fair fight!
Next up? Scientists will study each species’ populations and habitats separately. Talk about a glow-up for biodiversity research! 💡
