A Rhino's Arctic Adventure: A Tale of Survival and Evolution
In the icy reaches of the Canadian High Arctic, a surprising discovery was made. A rhinoceros, unlike any seen before, roamed this region 23 million years ago.
Meet Epiatheracerium itjilik
- Size: About the size of a modern Indian rhino
- Distinct Feature: Lacked a horn
- Location: Fossils found on Devon Island, within the Haughton Crater, one of the northernmost impact craters on Earth.
Life During the Miocene Epoch
This rhino lived during the Miocene epoch, a time when many mammal groups were diversifying. Until this find, no one knew rhinos had ventured so far north.
- Height: Around three feet tall at the shoulder
- Climate: A mix of warm summers and cold winters with snowfall, similar to southern Ontario or northern New York today
- Daylight: Extreme variations in daylight
Survival in Harsh Conditions
How this rhino survived such harsh conditions remains a mystery. Modern mammals dig through snow to find plants, but how this rhino managed is still unknown.
- Diet: Fed on leaves from trees and shrubs in a forest that included pines, larch, alder, spruce, and birch
- Browsing: Its narrow muzzle suggests it browsed like modern animals
- Possible Adaptation: Might have had a fur coat
Related Discoveries and Evolution
Other fossils from the site include Puijila darwini, an early seal with feet instead of flippers.
- First Appearance: Rhinos first appeared around 48 million years ago
- Spread: Spread across every continent except South America and Antarctica
- Extinction: Only five species remain today, but over 50 are known from fossils
Ancestral Origins
This rhino's closest relatives lived in Europe and the Middle East, suggesting its ancestors crossed into North America via a land bridge. This bridge was thought to have disappeared 50 million years ago, but newer studies show it might have been crossable into the Miocene.