NUNAVUT
Camels lived on Ellesmere Island millions of years ago in a boreal-forest type environment, according to a study published in the March 5 edition of Nature Communications.
Camels living in a boreal-forest environment on Ellesmere Island 3.5 million years ago. - photo illustration courtesy of Julius Csotonyi
|
Thirty bone fragments, parts of a camel's leg bone, represent the northernmost discovery of camels in the Arctic, extending its previous-known range by more than 1,000 km, according to the Canadian Museum of Nature, whose researchers led the study.
The overall size of the now-extinct animal was estimated at 29 per cent larger than modern camels, meaning it could weigh up to 900 kg and have an average shoulder height of about 2.7 metres, the evidence suggests. It also suggests the mammal had one hump and was a close-relative of the Yukon giant camel.
The discovery was a "big surprise," as the closest previously-discovered camel remains were found in the Yukon, more than 1,200 km away, said Natalia Rybczynski, paleontologist with the Canadian Museum of Nature.
"It's also important because it's the first time we see camels in a boreal forest environment," she said. "Normally, we think of camels today; they are living in arid, open-habitat kind of environment, not so much forested environment. So finding it in a forest and in a boreal-type forest environment, yes that's a big surprise."
The fossils were discovered during the summers of 2006, 2008 and 2010 in the Strathcona Fiord area of Ellesmere Island.
Research shows when the camel lived on Ellesmere Island, the planet was warmer than it is today by about two to three degrees while the North was 14 to 22 degrees warmer, explained Rybczynski.
"In the fossil record, we're seeing there is evidence of really extensive warming in the north, which is of course, concerning because that's what we're looking at today," she said. "And we see evidence of that having happened in the past. If we have a good idea of why these things are happening in the past …. then we can maybe forecast better what we should expect in the future."
In Grise Fiord, the discovery shows the prehistoric animals did exist as suspected by those hunting out on the land, said Marty Kuluguqtuq, the hamlet's assistant senior administrative officer.
"I don't think we're terribly surprised, only because there is a petrified forest up further north of us," he said. "We've known that for many many years. We've seen numerous amounts of fossils, whether it be critters or other footprints, we were not sure of. So, quite frankly, no we're not totally surprised on the so-called new discovery but yet, we are excited."
He added the discovery also shows how pristine the area is.
Further south in Arctic Bay, Mayor Frank May said obviously, the climate was very different then.
"I am not surprised. Having camels around does not surprise me," he said.
