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Still snarling after 40,000 years, a giant Pleistocene wolf discovered in Yakutia

By 0 and 0 and 0
07 June 2019

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The Pleistocene wolf’s head is 40cm long, so half of the whole body length of a modern wolf which varies from 66 to 86cm. Picture: Albert Protopopov

The severed head of the world’s first full-sized Pleistocene wolf was unearthed in the Abyisky district in the north of Yakutia. 

Local man Pavel Efimov found it in summer 2018 on shore of the Tirekhtyakh River, tributary of Indigirka.

The wolf, whose rich mammoth-like fur and impressive fangs are still intact, was fully grown and aged from two to four years old when it died. 

Pleistocene wolf

The wolf, whose rich mammoth-like fur and impressive fangs are still intact, was fully grown and aged from two to four years old when it died. Picture: Albert Protopopov

The head was dated older than 40,000 years by Japanese scientists.

Scientists at the Swedish Museum of Natural History will examine the Pleistocene predator’s DNA.

‘This is a unique discovery of the first ever remains of a fully grown Pleistocene wolf with its tissue preserved. We will be comparing it to modern-day wolves to understand how the species has evolved and to reconstruct its appearance,’ said an excited Albert Protopopov, from the Republic of Sakha Academy of Sciences. 

Map

Local man Pavel Efimov found it in summer 2018 on shore of the Tirekhtyakh River, tributary of Indigirka.

The Pleistocene wolf’s head is 40cm long, so half of the whole body length of a modern wolf which varies from 66 to 86cm. 

The astonishing discovery was announced in Tokyo, Japan, during the opening of a grandiose Woolly Mammoth exhibition organised by Yakutian and Japanese scientists. 

CT scan


CT scan


CT scan

CT scan of the wolf's head. Pictures: Albert Protopopov, Naoki Suzuki

Alongside the wolf the scientists presented an immaculately-well preserved cave lion cub. 

‘Their muscles, organs and brains are in good condition,’ said Naoki Suzuki, a professor of palaeontology and medicine with the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, who studied the remains with a CT scanner. 

‘We want to assess their physical capabilities and ecology by comparing them with the lions and wolves of today.’

Pleistocene wolf


Pleistocene wolf

‘This is a unique discovery of the first ever remains of a fully grown Pleistocene wolf with its tissue preserved.' Pictures: Naoki Suzuki

The cave lion cub named Spartak - previously announced - is about 40cm long and weighed about 800 grams. 

Scientists believe the cub died shortly after birth. 

The recent discovery follows that of the remains of three cave lions in 2015 and 2017 by the same team.

The cave lion cub named Spartak - previously announced - is about 40cm long and weighed about 800 grams. Pictures: The Siberian Times, YSIA

Spartak


Spartak


Research


Frozen cave lion cub

Comments (150)

I'm confused. What has the date (and how its written) got to do with a discovery of a 42,000 year old beautifully preserved wolf???
Jason, Brighton, England
10/06/2019 07:18
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This find is significant! We are moving in directions that can finally help us understand evolution. This is what we were all waiting for. Amazing find, it’s Pleistocene Park! Wow wow!
I . Sklar, New York USA
10/06/2019 06:59
8
2
This will be cloned somewhere for sure. Public or not....
MT, Brisbane
10/06/2019 06:40
9
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Nice to know that even in posts as important as this one the US manage to make it about themselves.
Narcissists.
Evie Hanlon, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
10/06/2019 06:34
11
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Congratulations on the discovery!
Amy, Indianapolis, USA
10/06/2019 05:43
5
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Suzanne, Mackenzie Valley wolves, the ones introduced into the Northwestern states (NOT reintroduced, as only the smaller timber wolf is indigenous to the region) easily reaches 200 lbs.
Judy, Rapid City SD
10/06/2019 04:04
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Meli please keep your opinions to yourself. You have no clue about any American except those close to you, so kindly stifle. Thank you. :)
Mariyn, Minnesota, USA
10/06/2019 03:18
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So 40 cm is roughly 16", that doesn't seem incredibly large. Is this why the metric system is so popular? Because everything sounds more impressively sized than it is?
Chris, Chapel Hill
10/06/2019 02:30
9
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40cm head size. Homo erectus didnt hav a chance.
Anthony Peterson , Virginia
10/06/2019 02:23
6
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I don’t understand the size. 40 cm is 16 inches so how is that half the length of a full size wolf now
Dave , Usa
10/06/2019 01:24
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6
An amazing and exciting find ! Those Americans with issues regarding the date, perhaps you should travel more and stop embarrassing the rest of us who have to apologize for ignorance in America. This Country is currently a laughing stock and those of you whom focus on the trivial matters such as how some write dates does not help the cause . Congratulations Yakutia Siberia ! Respectfully ,
Someone owned by Siberian Huskies ...
Zilla, Sandisfield,USA
10/06/2019 01:09
41
32
Great find!
Simikitten13 , USA
10/06/2019 01:00
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@Ronnie Hargrove - look at the tape measure. Tip of the nose is at about 6cm, back of the skull is about 36 cm, total = 30 cm. That’s pretty close to modern wolves.
PseudoSucks, Uk
10/06/2019 00:38
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First, as a Kindergarten teacher, I teach the students BOTH ways of telling the Date. Second, Wolves ears are more rounder than dog's ears. Last, I understand that one can only clone females, bearing females.Oh and " WhiteWolf" , wolves today are not very large, up to 6 ft in length, up to 32" height and up to 110 lbs. Once in awhile there will be a larger one. Wolfdogs can be quite large. BTW Scientists Great Find !
Suzanne, Las Vegas, US
09/06/2019 23:03
7
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Toilet seat up/down, toilet paper end over/under the roll, date year last/first? This article has great information that has nothing to do with dates, but in the modern computer age, there is a good reason for writing year/month/day regardless of where you are from. If you have a lot of data on your computer, it sorts to chronological date when you write year/month/day. When you use day/month/year, it sorts to all files saved on the first of any month, then the second, etc., etc. Most often, except in specialty situations, is valueless.
Atlatl Al, USA
09/06/2019 22:54
11
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