Woolly Rhinoceros

The woolly rhinoceros lived during the Ice Ages of the Pleistocene Epoch in Eurasia and the Americas from around 1.8 million years ago until 10,000 years ago. Completely preserved remains of the soft parts of a woolly rhino were unearthed in Ukraine and have given scientists a rare glimpse at tissues that generally decompose before bones are preserved.

In terms of size, the woolly rhino was slightly smaller than the white rhinoceros of Africa today. Unlike modern rhinos, the woolly rhinoceros had two horns at the end of its nose. In mature males, the longer of the two horns constructed of matted hair could reach up to five feet in length. In addition to defense, the horn could have been used as a means to push snow out of the way in order to get at vegetation under the layers of precipitation. Also, as its name implies, the woolly rhino had long, shaggy hair that allowed it to keep warm during the harsh Ice Age winters. Underneath this fur was a thick layer of fat which acted as an insulating layer against powerful winds and chilling temperatures. Small ears and a short tail also reduced the amount of body heat lost, and like many other animals adapted to cold environments, these rhinos had barrel-like, stocky bodies.

Woolly rhinos would have made formidable opponents for predators. Their titanic frame would have the potential to deliver bone crushing bones on a full charge. This, coupled with the long horn would have been the rhino's primary defense against predators which included man during the Pleistocene. The horn itself, being composed of tough, compacted hair would not have been as brittle as the bone crests of some of the woolly rhino's ancestors. With this durability, it would have been a very effective weapon in front of the battering ram-like body.

The woolly rhino went extinct near the end of the Pleistocene due to a combination of climate change and hunting from humans. As the climate got cold and wetter, the vast grasslands and tundra would have receded and forests would have sprung up. Ill suited to graze on anything but grass, the woolly rhino would not have been able to find sufficient food. Today only five species of rhinoceros exist, including the endangered Sumatran rhino to which the woolly rhino is closely related. This is a minimal legacy for a very diverse group of Cenozoic mammals.