Fossil of Tiny Unknown Hedgehog Discovered in British Columbia

Researchers have discovered fossilized remains of the tiniest hedgehog species in British Columbia.

Discovered in north-central British Columbia at a fossil site known as Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, the 52-million-year-old fossil was identified by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder. The tiniest hedgehog species 'Silvacola acares' and a tapir like mammal about the size of the medium-sized dog,  were found at the site.

In order to avoid damaging the teeth of the tiny hedgehog, the researchers scanned the upper dentition with high resolution CT scanner.

The scientific name of hedgehog means tiny forest dweller. The species measures about 2 inches long, approximately the length of an adult thumb.

 "It is quite tiny and comparable in size to some of today's shrews," Eberle said. The team speculated that Silvacola mostly fed on insects, plants and perhaps seeds. But not much was known on whether it had quills like contemporary hedgehogs? "We can't say for sure," Eberle said. "But there are ancestral hedgehogs living in Europe about the same time that had bristly hair covering them, so it is plausible Silvacola did too."

Hedgehogs are quite popular as pets in North America and the most commonly found one is the African pygmy hedgehog that is four times the length of Silvacola.

The scientists also discovered an ancient relative of modern tapir at the site that is similar to small rhinos with  no horns and short trunk.

"Heptodon was about half the size of today's tapirs, and it lacked the short trunk that occurs on later species and their living cousins," said Eberle. "Based upon its teeth, it was probably a leaf-eater, which fits nicely with the rainforest environment indicated by the fossil plants at the site."

The fossil bearing rocks at Driftwood Canyon were found at the bottom of the ancient lake. The fossil plants at the site reveal that the region experienced freezing temperatures and had climate that was similar to contemporary Portland.

The finding is published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.