We have completed maintenance on DiscoverMagazine.com and action may be required on your account. Learn More

Ancient Inuit Brought Sled Dogs From Siberia That Helped Them Survive, Study Shows

Dogs were already in North America when Inuit communities arrived, but the dogs the Inuit brought with them had unique abilities that helped the people survive in a new environment.

By Katharine Gammon
Dec 2, 2019 2:00 PMJul 11, 2023 1:43 PM
sled dog arctic
When the Inuit came to North America, their dogs came with them. Those dogs’ descendants are still in the Arctic today. (Credit: Markus Trienke via Flickr)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

(Inside Science) -- Huskies, malamutes and Greenland sled dogs are fluffy, hard-charging workers. They also share a lineage that can be traced back about 2,000 years. That's when Inuit people began moving from Siberia to the Arctic. Even though dogs were already in North America, the Inuit brought dogs with unique abilities -- and that helped the people survive in a new place. That’s the conclusion of a new paper, published this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society Biology.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.