No date is offered for the fossil, although the article suggests it was from between 3 million and 17 million years ago.

While the fossil is evidence for a once warmer South Pole, the reason for the warmth is unknown:

"We have to look at the models more closely: Obviously it wasn't greenhouse gases warming Antarctica 15 million years ago," he said. "Some other variables, other than human variables, caused [it]."

Maybe someone could whisper "pole shift" in their ear.