Fossils of tiny “ice mice”. They found it In remote northern Alaska. In a press release from the University of Colorado Boulder, the researchers announced news of the furry little creature found along the Colville River. Paleontologists are the new species Sikuomys microHis name was, A.J Seiko Means ice in the Alaskan Native language, a mys and the microscopic Greek the mouse And small Meaningful words.
Although the truth is that it is not quite a mouse, but rather a small creature belonging to the now extinct family of mammals called Gypsonictopidae. Presumably, the species most similar to today’s shrews were active throughout the year: the animals dug under something, but did not hibernate. They ate anything they could chew with their teeth, but mainly insects and worms they caught.
According to Jaelyn Eberle, lead author of the study, the reason for the small size may be the limited amount of food available.
Today we see something similar with shrews. The basis is that if you are very young, your food and energy needs will be lower.
It may have survived the cold months underground, giving it a better chance of surviving the harsh conditions after the meteor impact that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
According to study co-author Patrick Druckenmiller, this previously unknown species could open a new window on ancient Alaska. Druckenmiller also said that conditions 73 million years ago were very different from today.
It was an arctic forest full of dinosaurs, small mammals and birds.
The animals have adapted to harsh winter conditions, snow and complete dark winters that last for up to four months.
