October 09, 2020

Ancient Animal Remains Recovered


Ancient Animal Remains Recovered
The discovered species can be classified as lagomorph. Image by Reg Mckenna via Wikimedia Commons

Paleontologists from the Federal Scientific Center for Biodiversity of Terrestrial Biota of East Asia have made a discovery in Russia’s Primorye region. The scientists found remains of a previously unknown type of rabbit, also known as pikas or lagomorph. The remains are estimated to be 10,000 to 51,000 years old.

“Pikas (Ochotona) are mammals from the order Lagomorphs, close relatives of the common hare, resembling large hamsters in appearance,” said the press service of Land of the Leopard National Park, the area where the remains were found. They were located in a limestone cave 21 meters (about 70 feet) into the upper and lower layers of sediment. Pieces of bone and teeth were analyzed in a laboratory, which led paleontologists to conclude that the species was previously unknown to scientists. Specifically, it was the animal’s third premolar tooth that nailed down the discovery.

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