Researchers from the Canadian Museum of Nature have discovered the first species of mammals from fossils unearthed at a digging site in British Columbia. The discovery might provide more information on the mammals that once thrived in the area.
Researchers led by Dr. Jaelyn Eberle of the University of Colorado and co-author Dr. David Greenwood of Brandon University in Manitoba believed the fossils of the hedgehog and tapir found in Driftwood Canyon could be 52 million years old. During that time, Earth underwent a major temperature shift following the extinction of the dinosaurs.
The warmest period in Earth history occurred during the Eocene Epoch, around 50 to 53 million years ago. Mammal communities living in North America were quite different from the modern mammals at that time.
Until researchers discovered the ancient hedgehog species, its existence was largely unknown. Researchers named it Silvacola acares, which translates to tiny forest dweller. The body length of the animal was estimated to be 5 to 6.5 cm. The other animal was the Heptodon, which resembled today's tapirs.
"Within Canada, the only other fossil localities yielding mammals of similar age are from the Arctic, so these fossils from British Columbia help fill a significant geographic gap," said Dr. Natalia Rybczynski, a paleobiologist from the Canadian Museum of Nature.
The fossil of the hedgehog was found in two parts and cannot be isolated from the rock to which it was attached. The researchers ran a CT tomography on the rocks and involved 3-D graphics specialist Alex Tirabasso from Pennsylvania State University.
The fossils found at the Driftwood Canyon have well-preserved features. Scientists have unearthed fossils of plants, rocks, fishes, and insects in the past, but this is the first time fossils of mammals have been discovered.
Further details of the study were published in the July 9 issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
