Ancient wolf cubs found ‘fully protected’ in Canadian permafrost


Prakrit, an animal named Zorr, was discovered by locals in the local Tranëk Huachin First Nation, in Klondike Goldfields, near Sun City, by a gold miner who was filling a frozen mud wall with water.

Julie Mitch, an associate professor of anatomy at the University of Des Moines, said, “This mummy is so perfect, she’s basically got all her skin, most of her fur … all her soft tissues are present, and she’s 56,000 years old. Is, or is there, ”Julie Machen, an associate professor of anatomy at the University of Des Moines in Iowa, told CNN.

According to Machen, the female cub, “the oldest, the most complete wolf ever,” allows researchers to crave more deeply about what it would look like in her life.

Using X-ray techniques, experts have determined that the puppy, j Was saved in permafrost, died at 6 or 7 weeks of age.

Meanwhile, a technique called static isotope analysis revealed that the animal was alive when glaciers receded.

Experts used non-vehicle X-ray techniques to learn more about wolf cubs.

“There weren’t many glaciers around, which meant there was a lot more fresh water,” he said. “There were a lot of streams, a lot of rivers flowing, and maybe a lot of animals around. She was living in a happy time.”

The researchers found that the wolf cub’s diet was influenced by its proximity to water: isotope analysis revealed that “she and her mom eat mostly aquatic resources – things like salmon, maybe some shore birds,” Michene said.

DNA analysis revealed that Pup is a descendant of ancient wolves – the ancestors of modern wolves – from Russia, Siberia and Alaska.

The wolf's father died at 6 or 7 weeks of age.

“It’s not surprising – it’s related to the things that were there at the time.” “But the cool thing about it, which most people don’t know, is that wolves in the Ice Age were rarely related to the wolves that are around today.

“They are still the same species, but to be in the same species, they are very different. Their genetics have changed a bit over time – wolf diversity has decreased over time, and expanded again.

“She’s really an ancient wolf and at the time she was related to all the wolves around her,” said Michelle.

There seem to be very special circumstances for making permafrost mummies, the researchers said, adding that many well-preserved wolf cubs have been recovered from Siberia. However, this cub was particularly rare in North America.

A perfectly preserved Ice Age cave bear has been found in Russia - its nose is also intact

“These mummies are rare to find in the Yukon. The animal has to die in a permafrost place, where the soil is always frozen, and like any other fossil process they are buried very quickly,” Michene said. Statement. “If it lays too long on a frozen tundra, it will rot or eat.”

Because of its “ancient” condition, experts believe that the wolf cub died instantly, probably when its rose fell, as data show that it is not hungry.

The research was published Monday in the journal Current Biology.

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