The Sad Plight of Rhinos

1878 - Rashevsky, under supervision of A.F. Brant

The news recently that only 6 Northern White Rhinoceroses remain on the planet has been pretty depressing. Many sources contend that the Rhinoceros was the basis for the unicorn legend origin (others cite Narwhal tusks) but without them the parallel mat not be seen in the future. regardless, the news that the numbers of Northern White Rhinos has plummeted to a few males and females (none of which are pregnant after several attempts at mating and insemination) gave me an idea for November. This month will officially be "Ancient Rhinoceros Week".

The first Rhino, in no implied terms of evolutionary descent, is Elasmotherium. Three species make up the genus Elasmotherium: E. caucasicum, E. chaprovicum, E. sibiricum Fischer 1808 (type species). As mammalian charismatic megafauna of the last 3 million years (2.6 to ~50,000 years ago) a lot is known about these animals. In fact, so much is known that a simple weekly opening post could be a book unto itself. Instead, to keep this short, know that there are three species of Elasmotherium recognized and that they have enormous horns on their heads. We will look more in depth at them in some posts that will be dated for Saturday.