A discovery that left even the most experienced paleontologists speechless: a 23 million year old fossil rhinocerosperfectly preserved and 75% complete. Its scientific name is Epiaceratherium itjilikbut scientists affectionately call it “Frosty”a reference to the term in the Inuktitut language itjilikwhich actually means “frosty”.
The discovery occurred in Haughton Crateron Devon Island, Nunavut – one of the most remote and inhospitable areas on the planet. Yet, at the time when this curious herbivore roamed among the trees, the landscape was not at all what we imagine today: no tundra or ice sheets, but a temperate forestwith a mild and lush climate.
The “frost rhino” that had no horns
Despite its Arctic origin, Epiaceratherium itjilik is a rather slender animal, with dimensions similar to the current Indian rhinoceros: about 1.7 meters tall. The most obvious difference is thecomplete absence of horns. This ancient mammal, in fact, was completely devoid of them, and its anatomy suggests that it was a peaceful animal, used to grazing among the dense and humid vegetation of the Miocene Arctic.
Second Marisa Gilbertco-author of the study published in Nature Ecology & Evolutionwhat makes this fossil truly extraordinary is the state of conservation:
The bones are three-dimensional, not crushed, and only partially mineralized. It is one of the most complete fossils ever found in the Northern hemisphere: around 75% of the skeleton is intact.
A significant detail, if we consider that most of the fossils found in those latitudes are fragmentary or deformed by ice. “Frosty”, however, remained there, almost intact, as if the earth had decided to preserve its memory for millions of years.
The discovery that changes the evolutionary history of rhinos
Today they only exist five species of rhinocerosall in Africa and Asia. But how do you explain? paleontologist Danielle Fraserlead author of the study, in the past these animals were much more widespread:
“We know of over fifty fossil species, spread across Europe and North America. Adding this Arctic rhino to our family tree helps us better understand how they evolved and moved over time.”
The genetic and morphological analysis of E. itjilik revealed a surprising detail: the species arrived in North America crossing the North Atlantic Land Bridgea strip of land now submerged that united Europe and America millions of years ago. Until now, it was thought that that route had only been viable until 56 million years ago. Instead, this discovery rewrites the datesshowing that rhinos (and perhaps other mammals) may have used it until the Miocenethat is, much later than expected.
The Arctic you don’t expect
Today just the thought of a rhino walking through the ice of Canada makes you smile. But in reality this discovery forces us to look at the Arctic with different eyes.
23 million years agothose same lands that we now know as white desert were covered by trees, moss and lakes. An ecosystem pulsating with life, capable of hosting a very rich fauna.
And perhaps this is precisely the message hidden among the bones of “Frosty”: the climate changes, the Earth transforms, but every fossil is a reminder of its fragile balance. That ancient rhino isn’t just an artifact: it is a photograph of a planet that never stops changing.
