Millions of years ago, an ancient rhino the size of a pony without a horn roamed the forests of what is now northern Nunavut, marking the northernmost discovery of a rhinoceros. A recent study, released on Tuesday, has identified this creature as a new species and offers a fascinating theory on how it ended up in that location.
Known as Epiatheracerium itjilik, this rhino was similar in size to a modern Indian rhinoceros, standing about a meter tall at the shoulder. The research team, led by Danielle Fraser, uncovered over 70% of the rhino’s skeleton in the Haughton Crater on Devon Island, surpassing the previous record for the northernmost rhino discovery set by a specimen in Yukon.
The analysis of the rhino’s skull, teeth, and bones provided valuable insights. The wear patterns on its teeth indicated it was in early to middle adulthood, with researchers speculating that it was a female based on the size of certain teeth. The rhino was depicted in an artist’s reconstruction as a furry creature without a horn, standing near a lake surrounded by various flora and fauna.
Despite the harsh Arctic environment, the rhino was believed to have adapted to survive the snowy winters. Its species name, derived from the Inuktitut word for “frosty” or “frost,” reflects its icy habitat. Interestingly, Epiatheracerium itjilik walked on four toes, unlike most rhinos that have three toes.
The discovery raised questions about how this rhino made its way to Devon Island, with previous studies suggesting a land bridge between Europe and North America that existed millions of years before the rhino lived. The researchers proposed that ice formations during the Early Miocene period may have facilitated animal migration between continents.
The journey to officially categorize Epiatheracerium itjilik as a new species spanned 40 years, with the first bones discovered in the 1980s. The rhino’s habitat, the Haughton Crater, was created by an asteroid impact and has since become a treasure trove of fossil remains, including various animal species from the past.
The painstaking process of piecing together the rhino’s skeleton from scattered fragments highlighted the challenges faced by paleontologists. The study’s findings have intrigued experts in the field, shedding light on the ancient connections between continents and prompting further exploration into prehistoric animal migrations.