A new study conducted by an international team of scientists led by the University of York refutes previous theories about the Tumat Puppies, two exceptionally preserved canid specimens unearthed from the Siberian permafrost. Contrary to earlier suggestions that they might represent some of the earliest domesticated dogs, the research indicates that these animals were, in fact, wolf cubs from an extinct population.
The Tumat Puppies were discovered at the Syalakh site in northern Siberia, approximately 40 kilometers from the village of Tumat. The first was found in 2011, and its sibling was unearthed in 2015. Both cubs were intact, preserved in frozen layers of soil alongside the bones of woolly mammoths.
Genetic analysis proved that the Tumat cubs were female siblings from the same litter, around two months old when they died, likely during a landslide. “It was incredible to find two sisters from this era so well preserved, but even more incredible that we can now tell so much of their story, down to the last meal that they ate,” said Anne Kathrine Runge from the University of York's Department of Archaeology, who analyzed the cubs as part of her Ph.D., according to a press release published on Phys.org.
The research involved genetic testing and analysis of the remains' gut contents and chemical fingerprints found in their bones, teeth, and tissues. The findings showed that the cubs belonged to a wolf population that died out and did not contribute genetically to today's domestic dogs. The revelation challenges previous beliefs about the early domestication of dogs.
One of the most surprising discoveries was evidence of woolly rhinoceros remains in the cubs' last meals. Researchers were astonished to find the evidence, as the woolly rhinoceros was a large and formidable animal for wolves to hunt, even if it was a young calf. A piece of woolly rhinoceros skin found in the stomach of one of the cubs had not been fully digested, suggesting they died not long after their last meal.
“The hunting of an animal as large as a woolly rhinoceros, even a baby one, suggests that these wolves are perhaps bigger than the wolves we see today, but still consistent in many ways, because wolves still tend to hunt easy prey while some of the pack is engaged in cub rearing,” said Dr. Nathan Wales from the University of York's Department of Archaeology.
In addition to the rhinoceros remains, both cubs had consumed plant material, indicating that, like modern wolves, the Tumat Puppies maintained an omnivorous diet. Fossilized plant remains, including prairie grasses, leaves from the shrub genus Dryas, and willow twigs, were discovered in their stomachs. This suggests they lived in an environment with plants and animals to consume.
The Tumat Puppies were found near human-modified mammoth bones, leading scientists to wonder if the site was once used by humans to butcher mammoths. However, there was no evidence that the cubs had consumed mammoth meat. Scientists also considered whether the cubs might have had a connection to people, possibly as early dogs or tamed wolves that hung around humans for food. Analysis indicated that the cubs had little relation to today's domestic dogs.
“While many will be disappointed that these animals are almost certainly wolves and not early domesticated dogs, they have helped us get closer to understanding the environment at the time, how these animals lived, and how remarkably similar wolves from more than 14,000 years ago are to modern-day wolves,” added Runge.
The findings also challenge previous beliefs about the genetic mutation responsible for black fur in canines. One of the earlier arguments in favor of the siblings being dogs was their fur color, as both Tumat animals had black hair, a mutation thought only present in canines. The confirmation of the cubs' wolf identity suggests that black fur color may have been present in wolf populations not related to domestic dogs.
There are no visible injuries or signs of attack on the Tumat Puppies, suggesting they were likely inside a den, resting after their meal, until a landslide collapsed their home, trapping them inside. Based on their teeth, it's estimated the puppies died when they were just seven to nine weeks old.
“We can see that their diets were varied, consisting of both animal meat and plant life, much like that of modern wolves, and we have an insight into their breeding behaviors too. The pair were sisters and were likely being reared in a den and cared for by their pack—all common characteristics of breeding and raising of offspring in wolves today,” said Dr. Wales.
“Today, litters are often larger than two, and it is possible that the Tumat Puppies had siblings that escaped their fate. There may also be more cubs hidden in the permafrost or lost to erosion,” he noted.
The research provides insights into the lives of ancient wolf populations during the Pleistocene era. Despite not being the early domesticated dogs that some had hoped for, the Tumat Puppies offer a glimpse into the past and help scientists better understand the evolutionary history of wolves and their environment.
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