A mummified wolf dating back 44,000 years has undergone an autopsy, offering a rare glimpse into life during the Ice Age. Discovered in 2021 about 40 meters below permafrost by the river Tirekhtyakh in East Russia, this prehistoric predator could unlock new understanding of the Pleistocene epoch.
A significant find from the Pleistocene epoch
According to Live Science, this mummified adult wolf from the late Pleistocene epoch (spanning from 2.6 million years to 11,700 years ago) is the first of its kind to be discovered. The ancient predator was examined at the North-Eastern Federal University, marking a significant milestone in paleontological research.
The cold, dry conditions of permafrost have allowed the wolf to be mummified and preserved for millennia. Scientists extracted samples from the wolf’s internal organs and gastrointestinal tract to study its health and diet.
“His stomach has been preserved in an isolated form, there are no contaminants, so the task is not trivial,” said Albert Protopopov, head of the department for the study of mammoth fauna at the Academy of Sciences of Yakutia. “We hope to obtain a snapshot of the biota of the ancient Pleistocene,” he added.
Insights into the wolf’s life and environment
The wolf was identified as an adult male through tooth analysis and was noted as an active, large predator. Researchers aim to analyze its diet, which includes the prey consumed, to understand the ancient ecosystem better.
Living bacteria can survive in fossils for thousands of years. Scientists believe examining any microorganisms that might still be living in a dormant, frozen state inside the wolf could benefit modern-day biotechnology and medicine.
Continued research on ancient species
This project will help uncover more about wildlife and other ancient species from the Pleistocene. Researchers are also set to study another ancient wolf found in 2023 in the Nizhnekolymsk region of northeast Siberia, further expanding their understanding of prehistoric life.