Embryo of a mammoth in Siberia

2002/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

The lower jaw of a mammoth embryo has been found in the Ob River basin. The embryo had about 15 weeks to the death of its mother, that is, the female mammoth that existed in the last weeks of pregnancy; both mammoths and elephants have between 22 and 23 weeks of pregnancy.

This jaw is not the only fossil found on the banks of the Ob River, as the river induces fossils by progressively dragging the surrounding lands. Most of the fossils found are of Pleistocene origin, where large mammals have been found.

In the case of the embryo, the exact dating has not yet been done, so scientists will study the coloration and degree of fossilization of the fossil. However, mammoths lived in Siberia 14.000-27,000 years ago.

The newly discovered stroller had already developed the teeth. According to scientists, mammoths lived in a cold climate, so they had to develop teeth before today's elephants, to start eating grass with three months.