Extinct Arctic Rhinoceros Epiaceratherium itjilik Described from Haughton Crater, Canada

Canadian Museum of Nature researchers describe Epiaceratherium itjilik, an extinct hornless rhinoceros from the Early Miocene Arctic, based on a near-complete skeleton recovered from Haughton Crater on Devon Island, Nunavut. The Arctic rhino is the northernmost known rhino species and offers new insights into rhinocerotid evolution and dispersal across ancient land connections. The species name honors the High Arctic Inuktitut word for frost, and Inuit Elder Jarloo Kiguktak contributed to the naming. Most skeletal material was collected in 1986, and the fossil is curated by the Canadian Museum of Nature with preparation completed at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This discovery highlights the Arctic's continuing value to mammal diversification studies.

Introduction and Discovery

Scientists from the Canadian Museum of Nature have described a previously unknown rhinoceros from the Canadian High Arctic. The nearly complete skeleton of the new species, Epiaceratherium itjilik, was found in lake deposits within Haughton Crater on Devon Island, Nunavut, and represents the northernmost rhino ever documented. The Arctic rhino lived around 23 million years ago in the Early Miocene, a period when rhinocerotids occupied Europe and North America, among other regions.

Taxonomy and Morphology

Epiaceratherium itjilik was relatively small and hornless, resembling the Indian rhinoceros in size but lacking a horn. Its remains include diagnostic teeth, mandibles, and parts of the skull, and 75% of the skeleton was recovered in the Haughton Crater site. The team describes the Arctic specimen as being in early to mid-adulthood based on cheek-tooth wear, indicating a mature stage for anatomical interpretation while preserving juvenile insights for comparison with related species.

Name and Cultural Connection

The species name “itjilik” means “frosty” or “frost” in Inuktitut. The researchers honored the rhino’s High Arctic home by consulting with Inuit Elder Jarloo Kiguktak, who has participated in multiple paleontological expeditions in the region and visited Haughton Crater fossil sites.

Context within Rhino Evolution

The Arctic rhino adds a crucial data point to rhinocerotid evolution, a lineage that included many forms across Europe and North America in the past. The new Arctic species helps update rhino family trees and provides evidence that Arctic faunas contributed to mammal diversification patterns beyond previously recognized boundaries. The discovery suggests historic land connections may have enabled dispersal that occurred later than prior estimates, reshaping ideas about North Atlantic biogeography.

Fieldwork, Curation, and Community Involvement

Most of the rhino bones were collected in 1986 by Dr. Mary Dawson, a pioneer in Arctic paleontology. The bones—the upper and lower teeth, mandibles, and skull parts—enabled secure placement within Rhinocerotidae as a new species. Preparation for study occurred at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, while the fossil remains are housed at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Dawson’s ongoing legacy is acknowledged posthumously as a co-author on the study, which underscores the sustained collaboration across institutions in Arctic paleontology.

Scientific and Conservation Implications

Fraser notes that describing Epiaceratherium itjilik provides insights into rhino evolution and Arctic paleoenvironments, highlighting the Arctic’s ongoing value for understanding mammal diversification. The team’s work demonstrates how high-latitude fossil deposits can yield exceptionally well-preserved material, offering a window into past climates, faunas, and biogeographic patterns that shaped modern rhinoceroses and their relatives.

“The Arctic rhino fossil bones are in excellent condition and three-dimensionally preserved, with only partial mineral replacement,” - Dr. Marisa Gilbert, study co-author and CMN senior research assistant.

“The Arctic continues to offer up new knowledge and discoveries that expand our understanding of mammal diversification over time,” - Dr. Danielle Fraser, CMN.