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Woolly rhinoceros

author: Walter B.Myers/Novapix

reference: t-din06-10202

Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 31 cm

A woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) wanders the snow-covered terrain of Northern Europe 200 thousand years ago. In the foreground is a common rabbit of the family Leporidae. About the size, and maybe a little larger, than today's white rhinoceros, the woolly rhinoceros is believed to be related to the modern Sumatran rhinoceros. Covered with thick fur (AKA pelage), this stocky herbivore was well-suited to the cold climates associated with the Pleistocene glaciations. Woolly rhinoceros remains have been found dating as far back as 3.6 million years and as recent as 8,000 years ago. Cave paintings featuring the woolly rhinoceros have been identified; human and Neanderthal hunting, along with climate change, may have contributed to its extinction.

Keywords for this photo:

2013 - ANIMAL - CENOZOIC - EARTH - FAUNA - HISTORY OF EARTH - ILLUSTRATION - MAMMAL - PLEISTOCENE - POSTER - RHINOCEROS - SNOW - SYNAPSID - WOOLLY RHINOCEROS -