Millions of years ago, a rhinoceros without a horn, about the size of a pony, roamed the forests in what is now northern Nunavut, marking the furthest north a rhino has ever been discovered. A recent study, released on Tuesday, has identified this creature as a new species and presents an intriguing theory on how it ended up in that region.
Known as Epiatheracerium itjilik, this rhino was similar in size to a modern Indian rhinoceros but smaller than its African counterparts, standing at about a meter tall. More than 70% of the rhino’s skeleton was unearthed in the Haughton Crater on Devon Island, surpassing the previous record held by a rhino specimen found in Yukon.
Based on the analysis of its skull, teeth, and other bones, researchers deduced that the rhino was in its early to middle adulthood stage. The study’s co-author, Natalia Rybczynski, suggested that the rhino was likely female due to the relatively small size of certain teeth that are typically larger in male rhinos.
The discovery of this new species has shed light on its unique characteristics, including walking on four toes instead of the usual three seen in most rhinos. Despite its lack of a horn, which is common among fossil rhinos, Epiatheracerium itjilik stands out from other ancient rhino species in North America and has been linked to a genus of similar species found in Europe.
The research team proposed that the rhino’s presence on Devon Island challenges previous assumptions about the timing of land bridges between continents. They suggest that during the Early Miocene, some animals could have crossed over despite the presence of water between islands, possibly aided by ice formations during winter.
The journey to officially recognizing E. itjilik as a new species spanned over 40 years, with the first bones discovered in 1986 by paleontologist Mary Dawson. The bones were found in the Haughton Crater, a site rich in fossil fragments that include various ancient animals such as fish, swans, ducks, and an otter-like ancestor of seals.
The Arctic’s freeze-thaw cycles have played a role in surface turnover at the excavation site, making it challenging for paleontologists to piece together the scattered bone fragments. However, the meticulous efforts of the research team have resulted in a comprehensive understanding of this unique Arctic rhino species.
The study’s findings have intrigued experts in the field, with many eager to explore further evidence of ancient animal migrations across continents. The completion of the study marks a significant milestone in paleontological research, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary history of rhinos and their adaptation to diverse environments.
