Ancient predators found alive in 39,000-year-old Siberian permafrost

Scientists from Tyumen State University have uncovered previously unknown single-celled organisms alive in ancient permafrost. The discovery comes from a 39,000-year-old sample taken in West Siberia’s Nadym District. These newly identified predators belong to a distinct evolutionary lineage related to modern centrohelid heliozoa. The microorganisms were found in permafrost deposits dating back roughly 40,000 years. Researchers isolated a living culture from the frozen layers, revealing that complex predatory protists can survive over geological timescales despite climate shifts and thawing conditions.

The newly discovered species uses delicate radial extensions of its cell membrane to move and hunt. It feeds on bacteria, fungi, other single-celled organisms, and even small multicellular prey. Until now, living heliozoa had only been reported in much younger Holocene sediments, making this finding particularly rare. Elena Gerasimova, a senior researcher on the project, highlighted that the diversity and viability of protists in ancient permafrost remain poorly understood. The reemergence of such genetically distant predators could influence the structure of modern microbial communities in soils and water bodies.

This discovery confirms that some microorganisms can endure extreme conditions for tens of thousands of years. The findings also suggest that thawing permafrost may reintroduce long-dormant species into contemporary ecosystems. Further research will be needed to assess their potential impact on microbial balance.