"Reviving the Wooly Rhinoceros: Scientists Uncover Ancient Secrets in Fecal Matter"
Scientists have successfully reconstructed the mitochondrial genome of the long-extinct wooly rhinoceros using genetic material extracted from fossilized feces left behind by cave hyenas. This marks the first recovery of a genome for the European wooly rhinoceros, offering insights into potential regional distinctions among rhino herds and highlighting the value of coprolites as a scientific resource. The study also revealed that European rhinos and their Siberian counterparts separated almost half a million years ago, contradicting previous hypotheses. The findings may have implications for understanding past climate changes and predicting the future of extant wildlife populations.