The Hebrew University: The first and unique fossil of the Ethiopian wolf was found

The unique finding provides insights into understanding the species' resistance to environmental changes that took place during its existence in Ethiopia and emphasizes the urgency of the need for a conservation policy of its ecological environment in light of climate change in the near future and its being in danger of extinction

In archaeological excavations in Ethiopia, Hebrew University researchers discovered the first fossil of the Ethiopian wolf that dates back to about 1.5 million years. The unique finding provides insights into understanding the species' resistance to environmental changes that took place during its existence in Ethiopia and emphasizes the urgency of the need for a conservation policy of its ecological environment in light of climate change in the near future and its being in danger of extinction

A study by researchers from the Hebrew University, published in the journal Communications Biology, provides unequivocal evidence for the early presence of the ancient Ethiopian wolf in Africa, this is in contrast to previous claims that the wolf arrived from Eurasia to Ethiopia (and Africa in general) only about 20 thousand years ago.

In the excavations conducted in 2017 at the Melaka Wakana archaeological site located in the highlands of southeastern Ethiopia, led by Prof. Arala Hobars and Dr. Tegano Gosa from the Institute of Archeology at the Hebrew University, a fossil (right half of the lower jaw) of the canine family was found that was dated to an age of approximately 1.5 million years By a team of researchers from the University of Berkeley in California. The find was identified by a team of Spanish and Italian paleontologists led by Prof. Benbenido Martínez-Navarro from the Institute for the Study of Human Evolution in Tarragona in Spain as the first ever find of the Ethiopian wolf.

The Ethiopian wolf (Canis Simenis) is one of the animal species that is in immediate danger of extinction. Its size is medium (weighing 12-18 kg) and it is found only in Ethiopia, among other things, due to its narrow and unique ecological adaptation that allows it to exist only in areas that are above 3,000 meters above sea level and where the climate is relatively cold for many days of the year. Today there are only about 500 individuals of the Ethiopian wolf, and they are scattered as several isolated populations mainly in the Bale and Simien mountains in the south and north of the country, respectively.

In order to identify the unique fossil, the researchers used standard paleontological measurements in combination with sophisticated statistical methods. In the second phase of the research, adapted bioclimatic algorithms were widely used - models of environmental changes throughout the species' existence and the effect of climatic conditions on the habitats necessary for the existence of the wolf in the high mountains of Ethiopia. Prof. Hubers explains the research findings: "The work shows that the Ethiopian wolf was on the verge of extinction several times throughout its one and a half million years in Ethiopia, as a result of climate warming which reduced its habitat to the highest areas, where the necessary conditions for their existence still prevailed. These areas were geographically separated and therefore, breeding barriers were created, which put the continued existence of the Ethiopian wolf in danger. The return of cold conditions led to the recovery of the ecosystem necessary for the existence of the species and allowed the individuals to return to the lower areas, in a way that increased the territories. Increasing home ranges and connectivity between populations is what has allowed Ethiopian wolf populations to recover each time. The find from Melaka Wakana (at an altitude of 2300 m "only") probably represents such a period of recovery."

The bioclimatic models built on the basis of past findings also allow for the prediction of future climate changes and their intensity, as well as their expected impact on the unique habitats of the Ethiopian wolf. The results highlighted how urgent the need is to take action and preserve the ecological habitats in order to ensure the survival of the species in the future. "We were all aware of the danger of extinction of the Ethiopian wolf before the study, but the quantitative predictions were very disturbing. We found that global warming combined with the expansion of agricultural areas will result in the fact that already in 2080 the necessary conditions for the survival of the species will no longer exist in two thirds of the area where these populations exist, which are already small and isolated today, and this is the most optimistic forecast.' Prof. Hubers explains, and continues: "The ancient date of the fossil shows that it is an animal that is part of an ancient biological heritage. We hope that the research will draw more attention to the urgency of preserving its habitats.'

The find from Melaka Wakana is also important for the study of human prehistory. Most of the research in this field in East Africa is focused on the Great Rift Valley, where there is a rich archive of human fossils and archaeological sites dating back millions of years. The research findings indicate that it is necessary to study additional geological and ecological environments in order to understand the environmental background of human development in Africa.

The project in Melaka Wakana in Ethiopia was financed by international research funds and took place under a research license granted by the Ethiopian Heritage Preservation Authority and in cooperation with the members of the local communities living near the site. The current study was conducted in collaboration with colleagues from universities in Ethiopia, Italy, Spain and the USA.

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