list of ice age species preserved as permafrost mummies
List of Ice Age species preserved as permafrost mummies GudangMovies21 Rebahinxxi LK21
This is a list of Ice Age species preserved as permafrost mummies. It includes all known species that have had their tissues partially preserved within the permafrost layer of the Arctic and Subarctic. Most went extinct during the Late Pleistocene extinctions while some are still extant today. They have been listed to the most specific known taxonomic rank.
Overview
Permafrost mummies provide crucial insights into the physiology and life histories of Pleistocene organisms, due to how well the preservation process keeps the specimens from decomposing. The constant presence of permafrost is able to preserve the soft tissues of organisms through a process similar to freeze-drying. With such complete preservation of tissues, it is possible to determine numerous things from the such as: DNA, eDNA, evolutionary history, gut contents, and trophic dynamics. Studies have even shown that the process is so complete there is evidence of nucleic activity.
Some of these specimens are on display at the Kingdom of the Permafrost museum near Yakutsk.
(E) - denote an extinct species or subspecies
Artiodactyla (Even-toed ungulates)
= Bovidae (Bovines)
=Bison priscus, Steppe bison (E)
Bootherium bombifrons, Helmeted muskox (E)
Ovibos moschatus, Muskox
= Cervidae (Deer)
=Cervalces latifrons, Giant Moose (E)
Rangifer tarandus, Reindeer
Carnivora
= Canidae (Dogs)
=Canis lupus, Grey wolf
= Felidae (Cats)
=Homotherium latidens, Scimitar-toothed cat (E)
Lynx sp.
Panthera spelaea, Cave lion (E)
= Mustelidae (Weasels)
=Mustela nigripes, Black-footed ferret
Gulo gulo, Wolverine (first attributed to the putative extinct subspecies G. g. berelekhii, which is probably a junior synonym of the extant subspecies G. g. jacutensis)
= Ursidae (Bears)
=Ursus arctos, Brown bear
Lagomorpha
= Ochotonidae (Pika)
=Ochotona collaris, Collared pika
Ochotona princeps, American pika
= Leporidae (Rabbits and hares)
=Lepus americanus, Snowshoe hare
Lepus timidus tanaiticus, Don hare (E)
Perissodactyla (Odd-toed ungulates)
= Equidae (Horses)
=Equus lambei, Yukon horse (E)
Equus lenensis, Lena horse (E)
= Rhinocerotidae (Rhinoceroses)
=Coelodonta antiquitatis, Wooly rhinoceros (E)
Proboscidea
= Elephantidae (Elephants)
=Mammuthus primigenius, Wooly mammoth (E)
Rodentia (Rodents)
= Cricetidae (Voles)
=Lemmus sibiricus, West Siberian lemming
Microtus gregalis egorovi, Egorov's narrow-headed vole
= Sciuridae (Squirrels)
=Urocitellus parryii, Arctic ground squirrel
Passeriformes (Perching Birds)
= Alaudidae (Larks)
=Eremophila sp. Ancestral horned lark (E)