Australia confirms extinction of 13 more species, including first reptile since colonisation

Christmas Island forest skink and 12 mammals on list, which also includes the desert bettong, broad-cheeked hopping mouse and Nullarbor barred bandicoot

The Australian government has officially acknowledged the extinction of 13 endemic species, including 12 mammals and the first reptile known to have been lost since European colonisation.

The addition of the dozen mammal species confirms Australia's unenviable position as the world's capital for mammal extinction, lifting the total number of mammals known to have died out to 34.