Home / Science / New Ice Age Mammal 'Yak X' Discovered in Siberian Cave
New Ice Age Mammal 'Yak X' Discovered in Siberian Cave
20 Oct
Summary
- Unknown Ice Age bovine, 'Yak X,' identified through DNA analysis.
- Remains found in Siberian cave date back 250,000 to 27,000 years.
- This extinct mammal is closely related to the modern-day yak.
A new species of large Ice Age mammal, named 'Yak X,' has been discovered thanks to DNA analysis of small bone fragments. Researchers found these remains in Denisova Cave in southern Siberia, a site also famous for yielding evidence of Denisovans, an extinct human lineage.
The newly identified bovine is closely related to today's yak, with its evolutionary lineage diverging from yak ancestors around 400,000 years ago. The oldest specimen discovered dates back to approximately 250,000 years ago, with the youngest from about 27,000 years ago.
This discovery underscores the power of ancient DNA technology in identifying species from fragmentary remains. 'Yak X' coexisted with other Ice Age megafauna like woolly mammoths and steppe bison, and may have been a food source for Denisovans. The species appears to have declined during a warming period around 120,000 years ago before eventually going extinct.
