Hyenas Once Lived in the Frigid Arctic

TL;DR

Fossil evidence of hyenas in the Arctic during the ice age suggests their widespread distribution and the potential impact of competition with other predators.

Transcript

Thanks to Brilliant for supporting this episode of SciShow News! Go to Brilliant.org/SciShow to learn more. [ ♪ Intro ] If I ask you to picture a hyena, you would probably picture it wading through the long grass of a savannah or trotting across the dry sands of a desert. But new research published in the journal Open Quaternary reports the first f... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 Hyenas were once widespread carnivores, with fossil evidence found in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
• 🏝️ The discovery of hyena fossils in the Arctic challenges previous assumptions about their distribution and highlights the importance of considering ancient land bridges.
• 🍖 The extinct hyena genus Chasmaporthetes, also known as the running hyenas, played a significant role in the Arctic ecosystem due to their ability to eat and digest bone.
• 🤢 Different lineages of crocodyliforms reacted differently to temperature and sea level changes during the transition between the Eocene and Oligocene Epochs.
• 🍝 Crocodyliform fossils can provide valuable insights into past climates, but their ecological variety must be considered when interpreting their fossil records.
• 💱 The presence and distribution of crocodyliforms can help researchers understand climate and ecosystem changes and make predictions about modern climate change impacts.
• 🤢 Deep sea sediment cores provide detailed records that complement the study of crocodyliforms to understand past climate change events.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of the discovery of hyena fossils in the Arctic?

The discovery of hyena fossils in the Arctic challenges previous assumptions about their distribution and suggests a much wider range for these carnivores during the ice age.

Q: How were hyenas able to cross from Asia to North America?

Hyenas likely crossed the Bering Land Bridge, a patch of land that connected Asia to North America during periods of lower sea levels. This allowed for the migration of various species, including hyenas.

Q: What distinguishes the extinct hyena genus Chasmaporthetes from living hyenas?

Chasmaporthetes, also known as the running hyenas, had a less hunched posture and were likely better adapted for chasing down prey. They were also able to eat and digest bone, which gave them a unique advantage in the Arctic ecosystem.

Q: What might have caused the disappearance of hyenas from North America?

While the exact cause is unknown, it is suggested that competition with the ginormous short-faced bear, which appeared at the same time dogs went extinct, may have played a role in the hyenas' disappearance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• New research reveals the first fossil evidence of hyenas in the Arctic during the ice age, challenging previous assumptions about their distribution.

• Teeth from the extinct hyena genus Chasmaporthetes were discovered in the Yukon Territory in Canada, dating back to 1.4-0.85 million years ago.

• These hyenas likely played a significant role in the Arctic ecosystem, with their ability to eat and digest bone, but disappeared before humans arrived.