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Description
Elasmotherium sibiricum
Rhinos. Among the most iconic and endangered of all extant Megafauna with their pronounced horns, massive bodies, and imposing stature. Today, 5 species of rhino walk the planet, all but 1 are severely endangered. With one subspecies functionally extinct, the northern white rhino with 2 animals, a mother and daughter being the last of their kin. Its opposing subspecies, the Southern White is the most common, least threatened, one is also the largest, around. A big bull clocking in at around 3 tons and more than 5.5ft tall. However, wind the clocks back some 40,000 years, there were more than 9 species of rhinoceros roaming across the old world.
If one were to journey to central Siberia, one would have encountered a titan of the Mammoth Steppe. However, it was no mammoth. It was a massive rhino, known as Elasmotherium sibiricum.
History of Discovery:
In 1807, Yekaterina Romanovna Vorontsova, a member of a Russian Nobel Family gifted German-Russian zoologist Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim fragments from the skull of a massive rhino. The biggest part of the holotype was the jawbone often called the “Moscow Jawbone”. It is unknown how the jaw or the fragments came into the possession of Vorontsova or where it was found. It may have come into her possession through a gift of a subject of hers. Likely from somewhere in Siberia. The following year in 1808 at the Moscow Society of Naturalists, von Waldheim announced the find to his peers. The year following that, he formally described the specimen as Elasmotherium sibiricum.
The named is derived from the ancient Greek “elasmos” meaning laminated, and “therion” meaning beast. In reference to the folded, laminated enamel on the molars. The specific name is a reference to it being found in Siberia. So, the entire name means “Laminated Beast from Siberia”.
Description:
In the intervening years, nearly complete skeletons and skulls have been found across Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The finds allow a better insight into this awesome animal. For starters, it was a massive mammal. Comparable to some smaller woolly mammoths is size. Weighing in at around 5 tons, 15ft long and up to 6.2-7.1ft tall, it was a massive rhino.
This species, E.sibiricum, is often depicted as having a shaggy coat similar to the woolly mammoth and woolly rhino. No evidence has been found to corroborate this, but it’s not beyond reason to depict them as such. woolly mammoths have been found in similar environments and are larger than E.sibiricum, they had fur, so it’s not impossible E.sibiricum had hair too.
Elasmotherium’s legs are often stated as being longer proportionally compared to other rhinos. While true they were long, they weren’t by such a large margin. Really, only the radius and ulna were longer comparably, and it probably was not as significant compared to other rhinos.
The skull was short and round proportionally compared to modern rhinos and the contemporary Woolly Rhino. Equipped with massive molars designed to process food. Their diet was primarily grasses, sedges, and lichen on the steppe. The molars, unlike all extant grazing mammals were ever growing, meaning this animal could constantly process vegetation on the steppes. It likely had lips that were probably reminiscent of the white rhino, a squared off lip designed to grasp onto blades of grass.
A term endeared to this giant beast is the “Siberian Unicorn”. Given the fact that on the skull, directly above the eyes, was a massive bulge. When the first complete skulls were found, it was assumed that the bulge were regions where blood vessels concentrated to feed nutrients to a giant keratinous horn. Reminiscent of contemporary rhinos with large horns like the White Rhino. With estimates ranging from 4.9-6.3ft long. This depiction made the Elasmotherium an interesting subject in various pieces of Paleoart and in Pop-Culture. With it being depicted in the 2006 series Prehistoric Park and as a basis for the 2019 series Star Wars Mandalorian’s Mudhorn.
It would have been no less spectacular to imagine one in real life. A rhino the size of a small elephant strutting across the ice age steppes, with a massive horn the size of a person atop the head. While still possible recent research suggests something different.
Taxonomy and Implications:
Its taxonomic placement was all over the place for many years. When the first skulls were discovered in the mid-1800s, Russian-German naturalist and paleontologist Johann Friedrich von Brandt proposed a new family called Elasmotheriinae. Intermediate years placed the animal all over the place, from being, a true rhino, or being just outside rhinos themselves. Both theories were considered, but in 2017, the genetic study vindicated von Brandt.
In 2018, A joint Russian, Australian and European led research group was able to extract enough genetic data to piece together a clear picture as to where this rhino and its kin stands in terms of taxonomy.
The study indicates that Elasmotherium and its kin split off from contemporary rhinos in the late Eocene or early Oligocene 48-37,000,000 years ago. While still a true rhinoceros, the animal is in a lineage wholly separate from the modern species of rhino and their extinct cousins (IE: the woolly rhino and Merck's rhino).
Horned or Domed? The Great Elasmo:
Three years following the genetic study, another study published by researchers in Russia offered a new view on this animal. They posited that the dome was an anchor point for either a smaller horn, and/or just a keratinous growth to amplify the calls of the animal. The latter theory would make the dome function similar to some hadrosaurs or the domed antelope Rusingoryx. The authors posited that the reasons for this are the Elasmotheres diverged from the common ancestor of modern rhinos some 40-48,000,000 years ago. Furthermore, the authors noted the dome was thinner relative to other rhinos, and it would have been unsuited for a large 5ft+ horn to attach to the skull.
The authors noted that this theory is not the final, definitive statement on Elasmotherium and whether or not it has a horn, but it offers an interesting hypothesis to this massive beast. We will never truly know the appearance of this rhino unless paleontologists find a specimen frozen in the permafrost.

Behavior:

The behavior of this giant rhinoceros is largely believed to be similar to modern rhinos. A largely solitary existence, except when males and females came together to breed and care for their young. In the fossil record, usually only one Elasmotherium have been found per dig site. So it could only be assumed that these animals were solitary. Females would likely give birth to one calf and the baby would stay by its mother's side for 2-3 years before going their separate ways.

Studies of the brain case indicate this rhino actually had a less developed brain compared to contemporary rhinos. Likely a result of it being a more basal species of rhino. However, the brain possessed larger olfactory processes indicating a more advanced sense of smell compared to more derived animals.
Habitat:
Elasmotherium inhabited predominantly grasslands. This species dwelt on the Mammoth Steppe that stretched across Eastern Europe and into Siberia. The grassland would have been similar to the steppes of Siberia, but it would have been richer with flora and grew faster. A plentiful food source for this titanic grazer.
Fossils of this animal have been found in Kazakhstan, in parts of Ukraine, Moldova, and a handful of finds in central Siberia near Lake Baikal. Contemporaries of this animal would have been woolly mammoths, steppe wisent, various species of horses, saiga, and Megaloceros depending on the region.

A fully grown, healthy adult would have been virtually untouchable to predation. However, calves could have been killed by steppe lions or scimitar-toothed cats.
As of 2022, no fossils have been found west of Moldova, however, it should be noted that a cave painting found in France’s Rouffignac Cave depicts a massive one-horned rhino. Some paleontologists and paleoanthropologists attribute this to Elasmotherium extending this animal’s range into France and by extension, Western Europe. However, this depiction has been questioned as the horn is painted far forward on the snout and more so resembles a woolly rhino which was in France at the time. While not beyond the realms of possibility, its more likely the animal in the painting is an unfinished depiction of a woolly rhino.
Extinction:
The extinction of this massive mammal is largely believed to have been due to climate change. While it’s likely that humans did encounter and even hunted this animal, no remains of E. sibiricum show evidence of human butchery. However it went extinct, humans involved or not, one thing is known for sure. The animal vanished from Eurasia some 37,000-39,000 years ago. With some remains posited as around 25,000 years ago, but this is believed to not be as accurate as the former figure.
With its diet and inhabitable area shrinking, this massive rhino would succumb to extinction and vanish from the planet.
Today, most rhinos face the same threats as Elasmotherium. It’s a sad thought to think such magnificent creatures could one day join Elasmotherium’s fate. With conservation efforts being put in to protect these animals, hopefully we can prevent them from meeting the same fate as their cousin.
Elasmotherium may be gone, but it offers an insight into the taxonomy of this iconic group of megafauna as well as the process of science in interpreting how a prehistoric animal could look in life.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Ahh... the iconic Siberian Unicorn of the Pleistocene Steppes. Gotta say, it never occurred to me how massive this animal was in comparison to extant rhinos. With big bulls reaching 7ft tall. Really puts into perspective how massive this animal is, the size of small elephants.

Will this be in PMP? YES. I've been fascinated with this creature since I saw it in Prehistoric Park and I definitely want to include it in PMP.

Onto the horn... Okay, I know it's not exactly accepted, but having read the paper, to me, it makes sense and it's extremely interesting if this is true. Furthermore, I also did because it's something to further differentiate it from the woolly rhino. The original model and skin are by Lgcfm and Ulquiorra, specifically the woolly rhino. In terms of what I did, I raised the shoulder hump, removed the front horn and redid the skin of the face.

Woolly Mammoth by Demon Hunter:
European Woolly Mammoth (Demon Hunter) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom

Elasmotherium by me, modified from Ulquiorra and Lgcfm's Woolly Rhino:
Woolly Rhinoceros (Lgcfm & Ulquiorra) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom

Description
Elasmotherium sibiricum
Rhinos. Among the most iconic and endangered of all extant Megafauna with their pronounced horns, massive bodies, and imposing stature. Today, 5 species of rhino walk the planet, all but 1 are severely endangered. With one subspecies functionally extinct, the northern white rhino with 2 animals, a mother and daughter being the last of their kin. Its opposing subspecies, the Southern White is the most common, least threatened, one is also the largest, around. A big bull clocking in at around 3 tons and more than 5.5ft tall. However, wind the clocks back some 40,000 years, there were more than 9 species of rhinoceros roaming across the old world.
If one were to journey to central Siberia, one would have encountered a titan of the Mammoth Steppe. However, it was no mammoth. It was a massive rhino, known as Elasmotherium sibiricum.
History of Discovery:
In 1807, Yekaterina Romanovna Vorontsova, a member of a Russian Nobel Family gifted German-Russian zoologist Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim fragments from the skull of a massive rhino. The biggest part of the holotype was the jawbone often called the “Moscow Jawbone”. It is unknown how the jaw or the fragments came into the possession of Vorontsova or where it was found. It may have come into her possession through a gift of a subject of hers. Likely from somewhere in Siberia. The following year in 1808 at the Moscow Society of Naturalists, von Waldheim announced the find to his peers. The year following that, he formally described the specimen as Elasmotherium sibiricum.
The named is derived from the ancient Greek “elasmos” meaning laminated, and “therion” meaning beast. In reference to the folded, laminated enamel on the molars. The specific name is a reference to it being found in Siberia. So, the entire name means “Laminated Beast from Siberia”.
Description:
In the intervening years, nearly complete skeletons and skulls have been found across Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The finds allow a better insight into this awesome animal. For starters, it was a massive mammal. Comparable to some smaller woolly mammoths is size. Weighing in at around 5 tons, 15ft long and up to 6.2-7.1ft tall, it was a massive rhino.
This species, E.sibiricum, is often depicted as having a shaggy coat similar to the woolly mammoth and woolly rhino. No evidence has been found to corroborate this, but it’s not beyond reason to depict them as such. woolly mammoths have been found in similar environments and are larger than E.sibiricum, they had fur, so it’s not impossible E.sibiricum had hair too.
Elasmotherium’s legs are often stated as being longer proportionally compared to other rhinos. While true they were long, they weren’t by such a large margin. Really, only the radius and ulna were longer comparably, and it probably was not as significant compared to other rhinos.
The skull was short and round proportionally compared to modern rhinos and the contemporary Woolly Rhino. Equipped with massive molars designed to process food. Their diet was primarily grasses, sedges, and lichen on the steppe. The molars, unlike all extant grazing mammals were ever growing, meaning this animal could constantly process vegetation on the steppes. It likely had lips that were probably reminiscent of the white rhino, a squared off lip designed to grasp onto blades of grass.
A term endeared to this giant beast is the “Siberian Unicorn”. Given the fact that on the skull, directly above the eyes, was a massive bulge. When the first complete skulls were found, it was assumed that the bulge were regions where blood vessels concentrated to feed nutrients to a giant keratinous horn. Reminiscent of contemporary rhinos with large horns like the White Rhino. With estimates ranging from 4.9-6.3ft long. This depiction made the Elasmotherium an interesting subject in various pieces of Paleoart and in Pop-Culture. With it being depicted in the 2006 series Prehistoric Park and as a basis for the 2019 series Star Wars Mandalorian’s Mudhorn.
It would have been no less spectacular to imagine one in real life. A rhino the size of a small elephant strutting across the ice age steppes, with a massive horn the size of a person atop the head. While still possible recent research suggests something different.
Taxonomy and Implications:
Its taxonomic placement was all over the place for many years. When the first skulls were discovered in the mid-1800s, Russian-German naturalist and paleontologist Johann Friedrich von Brandt proposed a new family called Elasmotheriinae. Intermediate years placed the animal all over the place, from being, a true rhino, or being just outside rhinos themselves. Both theories were considered, but in 2017, the genetic study vindicated von Brandt.
In 2018, A joint Russian, Australian and European led research group was able to extract enough genetic data to piece together a clear picture as to where this rhino and its kin stands in terms of taxonomy.
The study indicates that Elasmotherium and its kin split off from contemporary rhinos in the late Eocene or early Oligocene 48-37,000,000 years ago. While still a true rhinoceros, the animal is in a lineage wholly separate from the modern species of rhino and their extinct cousins (IE: the woolly rhino and Merck's rhino).
Horned or Domed? The Great Elasmo:
Three years following the genetic study, another study published by researchers in Russia offered a new view on this animal. They posited that the dome was an anchor point for either a smaller horn, and/or just a keratinous growth to amplify the calls of the animal. The latter theory would make the dome function similar to some hadrosaurs or the domed antelope Rusingoryx. The authors posited that the reasons for this are the Elasmotheres diverged from the common ancestor of modern rhinos some 40-48,000,000 years ago. Furthermore, the authors noted the dome was thinner relative to other rhinos, and it would have been unsuited for a large 5ft+ horn to attach to the skull.
The authors noted that this theory is not the final, definitive statement on Elasmotherium and whether or not it has a horn, but it offers an interesting hypothesis to this massive beast. We will never truly know the appearance of this rhino unless paleontologists find a specimen frozen in the permafrost.

Behavior:

The behavior of this giant rhinoceros is largely believed to be similar to modern rhinos. A largely solitary existence, except when males and females came together to breed and care for their young. In the fossil record, usually only one Elasmotherium have been found per dig site. So it could only be assumed that these animals were solitary. Females would likely give birth to one calf and the baby would stay by its mother's side for 2-3 years before going their separate ways.

Studies of the brain case indicate this rhino actually had a less developed brain compared to contemporary rhinos. Likely a result of it being a more basal species of rhino. However, the brain possessed larger olfactory processes indicating a more advanced sense of smell compared to more derived animals.
Habitat:
Elasmotherium inhabited predominantly grasslands. This species dwelt on the Mammoth Steppe that stretched across Eastern Europe and into Siberia. The grassland would have been similar to the steppes of Siberia, but it would have been richer with flora and grew faster. A plentiful food source for this titanic grazer.
Fossils of this animal have been found in Kazakhstan, in parts of Ukraine, Moldova, and a handful of finds in central Siberia near Lake Baikal. Contemporaries of this animal would have been woolly mammoths, steppe wisent, various species of horses, saiga, and Megaloceros depending on the region.

A fully grown, healthy adult would have been virtually untouchable to predation. However, calves could have been killed by steppe lions or scimitar-toothed cats.
As of 2022, no fossils have been found west of Moldova, however, it should be noted that a cave painting found in France’s Rouffignac Cave depicts a massive one-horned rhino. Some paleontologists and paleoanthropologists attribute this to Elasmotherium extending this animal’s range into France and by extension, Western Europe. However, this depiction has been questioned as the horn is painted far forward on the snout and more so resembles a woolly rhino which was in France at the time. While not beyond the realms of possibility, its more likely the animal in the painting is an unfinished depiction of a woolly rhino.
Extinction:
The extinction of this massive mammal is largely believed to have been due to climate change. While it’s likely that humans did encounter and even hunted this animal, no remains of E. sibiricum show evidence of human butchery. However it went extinct, humans involved or not, one thing is known for sure. The animal vanished from Eurasia some 37,000-39,000 years ago. With some remains posited as around 25,000 years ago, but this is believed to not be as accurate as the former figure.
With its diet and inhabitable area shrinking, this massive rhino would succumb to extinction and vanish from the planet.
Today, most rhinos face the same threats as Elasmotherium. It’s a sad thought to think such magnificent creatures could one day join Elasmotherium’s fate. With conservation efforts being put in to protect these animals, hopefully we can prevent them from meeting the same fate as their cousin.
Elasmotherium may be gone, but it offers an insight into the taxonomy of this iconic group of megafauna as well as the process of science in interpreting how a prehistoric animal could look in life.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Ahh... the iconic Siberian Unicorn of the Pleistocene Steppes. Gotta say, it never occurred to me how massive this animal was in comparison to extant rhinos. With big bulls reaching 7ft tall. Really puts into perspective how massive this animal is, the size of small elephants.

Will this be in PMP? YES. I've been fascinated with this creature since I saw it in Prehistoric Park and I definitely want to include it in PMP.

Onto the horn... Okay, I know it's not exactly accepted, but having read the paper, to me, it makes sense and it's extremely interesting if this is true. Furthermore, I also did because it's something to further differentiate it from the woolly rhino. The original model and skin are by Lgcfm and Ulquiorra, specifically the woolly rhino. In terms of what I did, I raised the shoulder hump, removed the front horn and redid the skin of the face.

Woolly Mammoth by Demon Hunter:
European Woolly Mammoth (Demon Hunter) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom

Elasmotherium by me, modified from Ulquiorra and Lgcfm's Woolly Rhino:
Woolly Rhinoceros (Lgcfm & Ulquiorra) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom