Indricotherium
| Indricotherium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Sub-class | Theriiformes |
| Infra-class | Holotheria |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Perissodactyla |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Hyracodontidae |
| Sub-family | Indricotheriinae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Indricotherium |
| Species Information | |
| Species | I. transouralicum |
| Synonyms | Paraceratherium Baluchitherium Dzungariotherium |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Extinct |
Indricotherium (Russian: Индрик Indrik; & Greek: θηρίο thirio; "Indrik beast"), is an extinct relative of the rhinoceros and the largest terrestrial mammal known to have lived. Also known as Paraceratherium and Baluchitherium, Indricotherium was named for a mythical animal of Russian folklore, said to shake the earth when it walked.
Description
Indricotherium was a member of Perissodactyla, an order which includes all odd-toed hoofed mammals. It stood about 18 feet tall at the shoulder and was about 26 feet in length. Its weight has been estimated to be up to 20 tons, making it the size of an average sauropod dinosaur, and more than three times the size of a modern bull elephant. Although a rhinoceros, Indricotherium had no horns, but the size of the animal may have prevented attacks by predators except on the very young.[1]
The head was attached to a long neck which could be raised to a maximum height of 25 feet above the ground, enabling the animal to browse in the trees. The legs were stout and column-like. Modern interpretations suggest that Indricotherium bore a resemblance more to a bulky draft horse than to a rhinoceros.[2]
