The prehistoric appearance of the rhinoceros trunk

The 'rinos' are some of the oldest animals that exist, but they did not always look the same. In this article we will tell you about the prehistoric appearance of the rhinoceros trunk and some interesting facts.

The rhinoceros horn was changing with time

Currently, the few species of rhinos remaining in the wild are in danger of extinction because is considered medicinal to their horn and also because they are treated as 'trophies' by poachers.

Did you know that the rhinoceros family consisted of almost 50 species? Unfortunately today there are only five left and we do not know for how much longer. Of some extinct information is available due to the discovery of fossil remains through various investigations.

This is how we can know, for example, that the rhinoceros horn was not always as we know it in the now, that is, with a big horn in the center. Some did not even have antlers!

Prehistoric rhinoceroses were quite similar in appearance to the body, robust, with short legs and a lot of strength . Many had to evolve when the climate changed on the planet and they were able to survive. But that meant, for example, having to develop a special horn or that does not grow hair.

Rhinoceros Horn: with or without horn?

When we think of a rhinoceros, automatically comes to mind the image of an animal with a horn in the center of the head . But they did not always look the same way. Some species of this family with special horns or without it are:

1. Woolly rhinoceros

He lived in Europe and Asia until the last glacial period, about 30,000 years ago. He is known partly for cave art found in a cave south of France, where it was seen with two horns, one short and one longer and stooped.

As the name suggests, the woolly rhinoceros had hair all over its body . It is also known that it measured almost four meters in length and weighed around 3,000 kilos, similar to a current white rhinoceros.

2. Rhinoceros corridor

It belonged to the family of the hiracodóntidos, all extinct, that lived in the jungle zones of the present China, Pakistan and Kazajistán. Although it was similar to the current rhinoceroses , had longer legs and neck.

In addition, this species did not have horns and its face was similar to that of a tapir. They were able to run at high speeds - hence their name - and they are said to have more similarities to a horse than to a rhinoceros. They could measure up to 10 meters and, apparently, evolved towards the giraffes.

3. Teleocera

In this case, the rhinoceros horn Teleocera was quite similar to the current species, but it had a small horn above the snout, not present in all specimens.

The Teleoceras lived in North America 5 , 3 million years ago and were of underwater habits, so they are also related to hippos. They had short legs and broad thorax.

4. This 'rino' lived in Asia -precisely in present-day Russia- and its main characteristic was a horn almost two meters long and thick that was 'born' between the eyes.

His body was robust, the short legs and the small trumpet. He had hair all over his body and adult specimens could measure six meters and weigh five tons.

5. Thunder rhinoceros

The rhinoceros trunk of this species from North America and East Asia was really unique. It had a horn divided into two, but not ending in a tip, but in a rounded, so it resembles more the oxiconos of the giraffes than the antlers of the 'rinos'.

Undoubtedly, the appearance of the prehistoric rhinoceros horn was very different from what we know today.