DNA shows 'Siberian Unicorn' roamed Earth with humans

Plot twist -- “unicorns” apparently did roam the Earth once, but they were more like rhinos than horses.

Researchers are learning more about the fuzzy rhinos called “Siberian unicorns” after DNA tests of fossils are providing insight into their extinction. Paleontologists say they were around much longer than originally thought, living until at least 39,000 years ago. This means the animals lived among humans.

They were previously thought to have gone extinct between 100,000 to 200,000 years ago.

The study also says the Elasmotherium sibiricum likely died out because climate change wiped out their grasslands and food source, not because of humans.

The team’s research was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.