Ancient Lystrosaurus tusks may show the oldest signs of a hibernation-like state

These oddball ancestors of mammals might have slowed down to wait out the polar darkness

illustration on an ancient Lystrosaurus

Tusks from ancient Lystrosaurus animals (one shown in this artist’s reconstruction) have dark bands that might signal periods when the animals wintered in a state akin to hibernation.

Crystal Shin

The earliest fossil evidence of the metabolic slowdowns known as torpor may come from tusks of ancient creatures called Lystrosaurus.