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Today's manatees are only found in tropical waters
.
Source: Colourbox
The giant tiger-headed manatee from the Ice Age was discovered in 1741 by Georg Wilhelm Steller, who was later named after him (Steller)
.
The 18th-century naturalist was intrigued not only by the animal's massive size, but also by its unusual, bark-like skin
Previously, the scientific community believed that the bark-like cuticle was the result of parasite feeding, but also insulates heat, thus protecting manatees from harm in the cold and polar oceans of the Ice Age
.
But the current study shows that the ancient genome of the Steller's manatee revealed changes in function
To find out, an international team of researchers from Germany and the United States reconstructed the genome of the extinct species from a total of 12 different individuals' skeletal remains
.
"The most surprising result of our investigation was that we figured out why this sea giant has a bark-like skin," said Diane Le Duque from the Institute of Human Genetics at Leipzig University Hospital
The scientists identified the genetic defect by comparing its genome with that of its closest relative, the dugong
.
The researchers' investigation was supported by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, which contributed its bioinformatics expertise in ancient DNA analysis
"This is an impressive example of a genetic defect that not only causes disease, but also an advantage depending on the habitat," said Hofreiter of the University of Potsdam
.
In addition, the genomic data showed a dramatic reduction in population size
Hofreiter sums it up as follows: "With today's clarification of molecular genetics, our study brings to an end the precise observations made by a German naturalist in the early 18th century
.
"
Magazine
Science Advances
DOI
10.
