Daily briefing: Ancient ground squirrels ate like ‘zombies of the Pleistocene’

Ancient ground squirrels consumed a varied diet, including plants and potentially even small vertebrates, according to evidence from fossilized feces published online on June 10, 2026, in Nature. These Pleistocene-era rodents, described as "zombies of the Pleistocene," exhibited a broader dietary range than their modern descendants. The study analyzed coprolites, or fossilized dung, to reconstruct their feeding habits. This research sheds new light on the ecological roles of these animals during a past geological epoch. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ancient ecosystems and the evolutionary adaptations of rodent species.