There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
" Elasmotherium is a genus of large rhinoceros endemic to Eurasia during the Late Pliocene through the Pleistocene, existing from 2.6 Ma to at least as late as 39,000 years ago in the Late Pleistocene. A more recent date of 26,000 BP is considered less reliable.
Three species are recognised. The best known, E. sibiricum, or Siberian unicorn was the size of a mammoth and is thought to have borne a large, thick horn on its forehead. Theories about the function of this horn include defense against predators, attracting mates, driving away competitors, sweeping snow from the grass in winter, and digging for water and plant roots. Like all rhinoceroses, elasmotheres were herbivorous. Unlike any other rhinos, its high-crowned molars were ever-growing.
The known specimens of E. sibiricum reach up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in body length with shoulder heights over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) while E. caucasicum reaches at least 5 m (16 ft) in body length with an estimated mass of 3.6–4.5 tonnes (4–5 short tons), based on isolated molars that significantly exceed those known from the Siberian species. Both species were among the largest in the family Rhinocerotidae. ".
" The woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) is a species of rhinoceros that was common throughout Europe and northern Asia during the Pleistocene epoch and survived the last glacial period. The genus name Coelodonta means "cavity tooth". The woolly rhinoceros was a member of the Pleistocene megafauna. ".
" The skull of Arsinoitherium zitteli. Arsinoitherium distinguished by a pair of enormous horns above the nose and a second pair of tiny knob-like horns over the eyes. ".
Arsinoitherium reconstitution by Zdenek Burian:
*This image is copyright of its original author
3 meters long, 1m80 high, weighing till 2 tons, from Late Eocene to Early Oligocène (36-30 millions years ago). Nothern Africa, Egypt, Lybya, Tunisia and also Ethiopia, Kenya, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
After the arsinoitherium's skull, the arsinoitherium's skeleton...
" Arsinoitherium is an extinct genus of paenungulate mammals belonging to the extinct order Embrithopoda. It is related to elephants, sirenians, hyraxes and the extinct desmostylians. Arsinoitheres were superficially rhinoceros-like herbivores that lived during the late Eocene and the early Oligocene of northern Africa from 36 to 30 million years ago. "
But they weren't the ancestors of the extant rhinos ! I put this post here to follow the previous one, perhaps I have to remove these two last post into an other topic (for example "ancestors of the modern mammals"...), but I don't know how to make it...
(11-29-2019, 05:17 PM)Spalea Wrote: After the arsinoitherium's skull, the arsinoitherium's skeleton...
" Arsinoitherium is an extinct genus of paenungulate mammals belonging to the extinct order Embrithopoda. It is related to elephants, sirenians, hyraxes and the extinct desmostylians. Arsinoitheres were superficially rhinoceros-like herbivores that lived during the late Eocene and the early Oligocene of northern Africa from 36 to 30 million years ago. "
But they weren't the ancestors of the extant rhinos ! I put this post here to follow the previous one, perhaps I have to remove these two last post into an other topic (for example "ancestors of the modern mammals"...), but I don't know how to make it...
Arsinoitheriidae are actually more closely related to elephants according to several sources.
Here is a new paper about the body mass of giant Paraceratheriinae:
Body mass of the giant rhinos (Paraceratheriinae, Mammalia) and its tendency in evolution - Shijie Lia Qigao Jiangzuo and Tao Deng - 2022.
Citation: Our estimate suggests that Dzungariotherium sp. from Lingwu is one of the largest giant rhinos known, with a body mass of 20,558 kg.
So, the debate about the largest land mammal of all the times is not yet closed! In fact, i am starting to consider that the largest land mammals could have weighted between 25000 and 30000 kg for the largest specimens. But it is just a statistical guess for the moment.
Prehistoric Rhinocerotidae and relatives
