Extensive comparisons with all other Coelodonta species, and with extant rhinoceroses, indicate that the new specimens are much more similar to the true woolly rhino Coelodonta antiquitatis than to any other taxon. The newly discovered juvenile skull of Coelodonta nihowanensis from Shanshenmiaozui represents the only known complete juvenile skull of an early member of Coelodonta, and therefore has great significance for understanding the development and evolution of the genus. They also fall within the range of variation seen in late Pleistocene Coelodonta antiquitatis, but are distinct from this species in having developed cingula, relatively low-crowned teeth either with or without very thin cement on the surface, vestigial lower incisors, less backward-curved protolophs, and more slender limb bones. In the foreground is a Siberian unicorn ( Elasmotherium sibiricum ), and close behind are two Merck’s rhinoceroses. This illustration shows a paleoartist’s reconstruction of the three extinct rhinoceros species whose genomes were sequenced as part of the study. We think of rhinos as being characterized by a. Compared to other perissodactyl families, true rhinos got off to a late start and do not appear in the fossil record until about 40 million years ago most of the other perissodactyl families appear 55.5-46 million years ago. On the basis of both qualitative morphological characters and osteometric measurements, the new specimens can be provisionally referred to the species Coelodonta nihowanensis. Reconstructing Extinct Rhinos: Geneticists Map the Rhinoceros Family Tree. Rhinocerotidae: True rhinos are members of the family Rhinocerotidae. All of the cranial and mandibular specimens belong to individuals around 1.5 years old. Paraceratherium is an extinct genus of hornless rhinocerotoids belonging to the family Paraceratheriidae. Shanshenmiaozui in the Nihewan Basin of China is the locality that has produced the richest sample of Coelodonta nihowanensis material, including a nearly complete juvenile skull and mandible as well as various other cranial, mandibular, and postcranial bones.
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