Elasmotherium
Elasmotherium | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom Information | |
Domain | Eukaryota |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Subkingdom | Bilateria |
Phylum Information | |
Phylum | Chordata |
Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
Class Information | |
Superclass | Tetrapoda |
Class | Mammalia |
Sub-class | Theriiformes |
Infra-class | Holotheria |
Order Information | |
Superorder | Preptotheria |
Order | Perissodactyla |
Sub-order | Ceratomorpha |
Family Information | |
Superfamily | Rhinocerotoidea |
Family | Rhinocerotidae |
Sub-family | Rhinocerotinae |
Tribe Information | |
Tribe | Rhinocerotini |
Subtribe | Rhinocerotina |
Genus Information | |
Genus | Elasmotherium |
Species Information | |
Species | E. caucasicum E. inexpectatum E. peii E. sibiricum |
Population statistics |
Elasmotherium (Elasmo=plate, therium=beast) any one of four species of very large, single-horned rhinoceros, once native to the central Asian and European steppes. It was named in 1878 by Johannes Fridericus Brandt.[1]
Description
Elasmotherium was a quadruped herbivore. It is thought to have been a grazer.[2] It is sometimes called the ‘giant unicorn’ because of the single, large horn growing from its head. The horn, made of keratin, could be about six feet long in length.[3] In total, the animal was about six feet tall and twenty feet long, weighing from 3.5 to 4.5 tons.[4][5] Despite being such a large animal, Elasmotherium was capable of reaching swift running speeds, producing the most kinetic energy of all land mammals, at twenty-five miles per hour.[6]
Habitat
Elasmotherium liked the Pleistocene steppe regions in Europe and Asia. It consumed grasses as an herbivore and is thought to have been a grazer. A likely capable runner and adept swimmer, Elasmotherium could likely thrive in different steppe-regions.[7]
Evolutionary claims
Evolution scientists claim that Elasmotherium is a relative to the Indian rhinoceros due to similarities in size and range/distribution.[8]
References
- ↑ http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/extinct/Elasmotherium.shtml
- ↑ http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/extinct/Elasmotherium.shtml
- ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-elasmotherium.htm
- ↑ http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/extinct/Elasmotherium.shtml
- ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-elasmotherium.htm
- ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-elasmotherium.htm
- ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-elasmotherium.htm
- ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-elasmotherium.htm