A frozen mummy of a young specimen of the fossil woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis (Blumenbach, 1799) in the late pleistocene of Yakutia

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Abstract

This study describes a newly found frozen carcass of an extinct woolly rhinoceros of young age (4–4.5 years old) living during the Karginian Interstadial of the Late Pleistocene (32 440±140 years ago). The size traits of this specimen are compared to those of 1–1.5 year-old juveniles as well as adults of C. antiquitatis found previously. Studies of a newly found carcass allowed to fill the gaps in information about ontogenesis of the woolly rhinoceros, to illustrate the process of color change of its wool, as well as to reveal a new anatomical feature of C. antiquitatis – the presence of a fat hump. Numerous remains of microscopic crustaceans were found in the wool, including members of the genus Moina (Cladocera: Moinidae), currently absent in the region. The former were relatively common in Pleistocene temporary water bodies of this region. The burial of the rhinoceros body occurred in a shallow (apparently temporary), fishless water body.

About the authors

G. G. Boeskorov

Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Yakutsk

O. F. Chernova

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. Protopopov

Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Yakutsk

A. N. Neretina

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

M. V. Shchelchkova

M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University,

Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Yakutsk

R. I. Belyaev

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. A. Kotov

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: gboeskorov@mail.ru

Corresponding Member of the RAS

Russian Federation, Moscow

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