'Freakish' discovery of 9 million-year-old capybara tooth supports idea that Atacama wasn't always a desert
Scientists discovered a 9 million-year-old capybara tooth in Chile's Atacama Desert, suggesting the region was not always hyperarid. This finding challenges previous theories about the timeline of the desert's formation and the impact of the Andes mountains.
Why it matters
This discovery provides critical evidence for paleoclimatology, helping researchers better understand the environmental history of one of Earth's driest regions.
A 9 million-year-old capybara tooth was found in the Atacama Desert, a surprising find given that these rodents love water.
By Damien Pine Edited by Laura Geggel , Laura Mondrag n Published 8 October 2026 In News When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works .
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An illustration of ancient capybaras enjoying coastal wetlands, which may have looked somewhat like the Atacama Desert around 9 million years ago.
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