Scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of the long-extinct woolly rhinoceros from an unusual place: the stomach contents of a naturally mummified Pleistocene wolf pup from Siberia.
As its name suggests, the woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) had long, shaggy hair that made it perfectly suited for life on the frigid Eurasian steppe. The animal, which sported two horns on its snout, was comparable in size to modern rhino species. The current fossil record suggests the animal went extinct around 14,000 years ago (although there is some evidence that this may have happened as recently as 9,000 years ago). Sequencing the genomes of such extinct megafauna can help identify the culprit behind their extinction, providing tools to counter the pervasive threats species face today.
This is a Big Deal.
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