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Rhinocerotidae
Rhinoceroses
4
Number of resurrected species:
Family
Order
Class
Rhinocerotidae
Perissodactyla
Mammalia
Description
The Rhinocerotidae-family consists of many species of extinct, but also still extant species of rhinoceros. A typical rhinoceros is large in size, has a single or multiple horns on its face and has a thick skin. They were once widespread and common throughout the Northern Hemisphere and Africa and lived in a wide range of habitats. Some species are known as one the largest land mammals that ever existed, like Paraceratherium. Rhinoceroses are strictly herbivorous and probably ate a wide variety of vegetation, like grasses, leaves and aquatic vegetation.
Distribution & Fossil evidence
The oldest members of the Rhinocerotidae-family lived in North America during the Eocene and spread to Eurasia and Africa soon after that.
Species
The first rhinoceroses resembled a tapir or horse instead of a typical rhinoceros. Many species are known and well studied.
Included genera
Coelodonta, Stephanorhinus
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