Archaeological excavations at the construction site of Felipe Angel International Airport under Mexico have brought unique discoveries. In 2019, at least 110 mammoths and other prehistoric animals were found here. The area has been occupied by the ancient Shaltokan lake ecosystem and new data allows you to have a new view of the evolution of Mammoth Colombia (Mammuthus Columbii), Phys.org report.
For a long time, it was believed that the Colombian mammoths living in North and Central America came from the breeding of wool mammoths (M. Primigenius) and Mammoth (M. Trogontherii) about 800-400 thousand years ago. However, a genetic study published on Science shows that Mexican mammoth is a separate line.
Scientists have analyzed mitochondrial DNA extracted from elephant teeth. This is especially important, because in the heat climate, genetic materials are poorly preserved, and so far, most of the data about mammoths from the northern areas.
The results showed that a special cluster called 1G Clade. It turned out to be significantly different from other mammoths in North America and showed deep genetic uniqueness. According to the difference, the Mexican group can be compared to other main mammoth elephants.
Scientists have proposed a possible explanation: the structure of the mitochondrial DNA can exist in mammoth mammoths until their breeding with the Steppe Steppe line. Dating with radiocarbon shows that these vandals exist in late Pleistocene – from 40 to 12.7 thousand years ago.
The researchers emphasized: Detecting the importance of the research of fossils from different regions, including the tropics. This is the only way to restore the full picture of the evolution of extinct species.
