Molecular identification of late and terminal Pleistocene Equus ovodovi from northeastern China.
Authors: Yuan Jun-Xia, Hou Xin-Dong, Barlow Axel, Preick Michaela, Taron Ulrike H, Alberti Federica, Basler Nikolas, Deng Tao, Lai Xu-Long, Hofreiter Michael, Sheng Gui-Lian
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary The extinct horse species *Equus ovodovi* has previously been documented only from Russian fossil sites, but molecular analysis of three equid specimens from northeastern China—radiocarbon dated between 40,201 and 12,596 calibrated years before present—reveals this lineage ranged considerably further east than initially recognised. DNA extracted from these fossils yielded near-complete mitochondrial genomes that cluster phylogenetically with Russian *E. ovodovi* specimens, definitively confirming the species' presence in China and extending its known geographic distribution by several thousand kilometres. The youngest specimen, dating to 12,770–12,596 cal. yBP, pushes the documented extinction of *E. ovodovi* into the terminal Pleistocene, substantially later than previously identified fossils, whilst genetic analysis suggests this species maintained comparable mitochondrial diversity to several modern equine species despite its eventual extinction. For equine professionals, this research underscores the importance of extinct equid lineages in understanding modern horse genetics and evolutionary resilience, particularly regarding how diverse wild populations once were compared to today's relatively limited gene pools.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This study is of paleontological interest only and has no direct application to modern equine practice, veterinary care, or farriery
Key Findings
- •Molecular identification of Equus ovodovi fossils from northeastern China extends the geographic range of this extinct species several thousand kilometers east of previously known Russian specimens
- •The youngest E. ovodovi specimen dated to 12,770-12,596 cal. yBP represents the terminal Pleistocene occurrence, pushing the extinction date of this species forward considerably
- •Genetic diversity analysis of three near-complete mitochondrial genomes reveals diversity levels similar to several extant Equus species, with coalescence time of all E. ovodovi haplotypes approximately 199 thousand years ago