New Species of Extinct Tibetan Fox Discovered

Posted on June 10, 2014

Paleontologists have identified a previously unknown species of ancient Tibetan fox. The researchers believe this fox and other creatures living in the high altitude environments of the ancient Tibetan Plateau evolved into present day animals of the Arctic region. The Tibetan fox (Vulpes qiuzhudingi) is said to be a likely ancestor of the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). An artist's reconstruction of the Zanda fauna from the Pliocene about 5 to 2.5 million years ago is pictured above.

Discover Magazine reports that the ancient Tibetan fox had hypercarnivorous teeth. Hypercarnivorous refers to an animal that consumes at least 70% meat. Discovery also says that the tooth pattern found in the ancient Tibetan wolf is matched only by the modern Arctic fox species.

The research team also uncovered extinct species of a woolly rhino, three-toed horse, Tibetan bharal (blue sheep), chiru (Tibetan antelope), snow leopard, badger and 23 other mammals. The researchers say the fossil discoveries suggest an "out of Tibet" hypothesis for the development of Ice Age megafauna. Creatures such as the woolly mammoth, giant sloths and saber-toothed cat used ancient Tibet as a "training ground" for developing adaptations that enabled them to cope with severe climatic conditions.

A research paper on the fossil find is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The research was led by Xiaoming Wang of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM). The co-authors are Zhijie Jack Tseng (University of Southern California), Qiang Li (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Gary T. Takeuchi (Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits), and Guangpu Xie (Gansu Provincial Museum).

ANIMALS