We hear about them in fairytales, but it turns out that unicorns really did exist. Scientists recently discovered evidence that the ancient rhinoceros species known as the giant "siberian unicorn' roamed the planet about 29,000 years ago. That's far more recently than previously thought.
But the bad news is these unicorns look nothing like the mythical creatures we've come to picture in our heads. They're fatter and furrier -- more like a rhino than a stallion. But it did have a large horn.
Scientists are studying a well-preserved fossilized skull found in Kazakhstan. The team hopes the find will help them understand what environmental factors led to the eventual extinction of the species.
Instructional Links
Website Article: KidzSearch, Siberia
http://www.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Siberia
Encyclopedia Article: Britannica.com, Unicorn
http://www.britannica.com/topic/unicorn
Website Article: Live Science, 'Unicorns' Lumbered Across Siberia 29,000 Years Ago
http://www.livescience.com/54219-unicorns-once-lumbered-across-siberia.html