Mummified Mice Found Living on Volcanoes in Mars-Like Conditions, Confound Scientists

Mouse Mummies Unearthed in Harsh Volcano Environments Shed Light on Physiological Adaptations of Small Mammals, Frustrating Previous Assumptions of Inhabitatibility

Mummified and live mice were found at the summit of volcanoes in the Atacama Desert, surviving in Mars-like conditions, challenging previous assumptions that such environments were uninhabitable for small mammals.
These leaf-eared mice, found at roughly 20,000 feet above sea level, were initially thought to have been transported to these heights by the Incas, but evidence suggests that the mice ascended the peaks on their own.
Genetic information preserved in the mummified mice revealed that the mice from the summits and those from the base of the volcanoes are closely related, dispelling the theory of different subpopulations based on altitude.
The extreme conditions of the Puna de Atacama have been seen as a analogue for Mars, with mice demonstrating survival skills in incredibly harsh environments, raising questions about the survival capabilities of mammals.
Scientific studies, including simulation of conditions in laboratories, continue to unveil the physiological adaptations that these rodents have made to survive in these conditions. Their existence in such heights still remains partially a mystery.