Numbats are overheating because Australia is getting too hot for them

The special fur that numbats evolved to conserve energy is now putting them at risk of overheating amid Australia’s increasingly hot temperatures. Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus), which are unusual marsupials in that they are active during the day, eat termites hidden under wooden logs and topsoil. Since these insects are a low-calorie meal, numbats – which typically weigh around 500 grams – have evolved fur that absorbs heat from the sun, saving calories that would otherwise go towards generating body heat. As temperatures rise, that evolutionary trait may be backfiring, with numbats overheating within minutes of feeding under direct sunlight. – Learn more ➤ Subscribe ➤ Get more from New Scientist: Official website: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: About New Scientist: New Scientist was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”. Today our website, videos, newsletters, app, podcast and print magazine cover the world’s most important, exciting and entertaining science news as well as asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe, and what it means to be human. New Scientist