Dogor

Dogor is a preserved canine specimen that was found in the Siberian permafrost in 2018. It is a remarkably well preserved two-month-old male puppy with fur and whiskers remaining. The animal has been determined to be 18,000 years old. DNA sequencing has been unable to identify the animal as either a dog or a wolf.

The specimen was named Dogor by scientists. The word (Cyrillic: Догор) means "friend" in the local Yakut language and also hints at the question of whether the animal is a "dog or wolf".[1]

Description

Dogor was found in the permafrost in Belaya Gora (Sakha Republic) in eastern Siberia in summer 2018.[2][3] It is the body of a two-month-old male canine puppy.[1] The body is remarkably well preserved, and its fur, whiskers, nose and teeth remain intact.[1][4] A part of its rib bone was analysed by radiocarbon dating, which placed it at 18,000 years old.[4]

Identification

Due to the animal's age, it is possible that it represents an evolutionary link between dogs and wolves.[1] Scientists continue to debate the exact point at which dogs were first domesticated, but if Dogor is determined to be a dog, it would be the oldest ever discovered.[1][4] Dogor has, therefore, been described as coming from "a very interesting time in terms of wolf and dog evolution", possibly from around the time of the first domestication of dogs.[3]

DNA sequencing is usually sufficient to distinguish between dogs and wolves; however, even after a large amount of analysis, it has not been possible to determine to which species Dogor belongs.[3] It is possible that Dogor represents a common ancestor of both species.[1] Further DNA sequencing is planned, and this may provide more insight.[1]


References
  1. "Scientists stumped by 18,000-year-old frozen 'dog'". BBC News. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  2. "Amazingly preserved puppy with whiskers, eyelashes, hair and velvety nose intact puzzle scientists". Siberian Times. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  3. Woodyatt, Amy (27 November 2019). "18,000-year-old frozen puppy leaves scientists baffled". CNN Travel.
  4. Sparks, Hannah (27 November 2019). "18,000-year-old puppy stumps scientists: Is it a dog or a wolf?". New York Post. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
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