![]() From there, it may have reached the Indian-Pakistani subcontinent in the Oligocene epoch between 34 and 23 millions years ago where other giant rhino specimens have been found. "It raises the possibility the giant rhino could have passed through the Tibetan region before it became the elevated plateau it is today. But its evolutionary relationships remain unclear," Deng shared. The giant rhino has primarily been found in Asia. "It is one of the largest land mammals that ever lived. Since it's so rare to find such preserved pieces of animals, this discovery will help the team learn even more about this rhino and its genealogical descendants. The researchers found this fossil in a prehistoric animal graveyard in Gansu, China. Its tusk-like incisors are primarily used to break twigs and strip bark, as well as to bend higher branches." woolly rhinoceros, (genus Coelodonta), either of two extinct species of rhinoceros found in fossil deposits of the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (5.3 million to 11,700 years ago) in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. "Its prehensile nose trunk was extremely useful to wrap around branches-allowing the sharp front teeth to strip off the leaves. Its head can reach a height of seven meters (23ft) to browse leaves of tree tops," Deng explained of the rhino. The giant rhino's long legs were good for running. "It was five meters (16.4ft) high at the shoulders and eight meters (26.25ft) long. ![]() Related: Scientists Found Fossilized Footprints in the Grand Canyon That Could Be Over 300 Million Years Old ![]() "It had a body weight of 24 tons, similar to the total weight of four African elephant or eight white rhinos," Professor Tao Deng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the lead author, told SWNS. The hornless ancient rhino, though, appeared to have a narrow skull, short trunk, and a long, muscular neck. Researchers think this fossil, officially named Paraceratherium linxiaense, looks like an oversized tapir, which is an herbivorous mammal that also resembles a pig. Paraceratherium linxiaense giant rhinos in the Linxia Basin
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