One of the last woolly rhinos to walk Earth was eaten by a wolf pup — and scientists have now sequenced its genome from the undigested meat

Live ScienceWednesday, January 14, 2026 at 5:01:00 PM
NeutralScience
One of the last woolly rhinos to walk Earth was eaten by a wolf pup — and scientists have now sequenced its genome from the undigested meat
  • Scientists have sequenced the genome of a woolly rhinoceros from undigested remains found in the stomach of a wolf pup that lived over 14,000 years ago. This discovery provides valuable insights into the extinction of the woolly rhino, a species that roamed the Earth during the Pleistocene epoch.
  • The successful sequencing of the woolly rhino's DNA from the wolf pup's remains marks a significant advancement in paleogenomics, allowing researchers to better understand the genetic factors that contributed to the extinction of this iconic species.
  • This finding highlights the interconnectedness of ancient ecosystems and the role of predation in extinction events, prompting further investigation into how climate change and human activities may have influenced the survival of large mammals during the Pleistocene.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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