Small Mammal Bones (IMAGE)

University of Utah

Small Mammal Bones

Caption

A tray holds bones of ancient small mammals, including rabbits, hares, woodrats, gophers, deer mice and kangaroo rats excavated from the Shelter of the Scorpions in Baja California, Mexico. A University of Utah analysis of 10,000 years of rabbit and hare bones from the site shows how populations of those animals boomed during wet periods when the climate pattern known as El Niño caused heavy rains and resulted in growth of plants to feed the animals.

Credit

Lee J. Siegel, University of Utah

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