Woolly Rhinoceros

WOOLLY RHINOCEROS (Coelodonta antiquitatis), creature that existed during the Pleistocene epoch; standing over six feet tall and measuring around sixteen feet in length, the woolly rhinoceros sported two impressive keratin horns on its snout—these horns, slightly flattened, were likely used for defense, mating displays, and for breaking through layers of snow to access vegetation. This species was well-adapted to the harsh, cold environments of the northern hemisphere during the Ice Age, with its thick fur providing insulation against the cold. Fossil evidence suggests that woolly rhinos were primarily grazers, feeding on grasses and other low-lying vegetation. Unfortunately, like many other megafauna of the Pleistocene, the woolly rhinoceros became extinct toward the end of the last Ice Age, around 10,000 years ago. While human hunting likely played a role in the decline of woolly rhinoceros populations, climatic changes associated with the end of the last Ice Age were likely the primary drivers of their extinction; as temperatures warmed and habitats changed, the once-thriving populations dwindled, eventually leading to their disappearance. Recent genomic studies have revealed surprising connections between the woolly rhinoceros and other modern rhinoceros species; the woolly rhinoceros is more closely related to the Sumatran rhinoceros than to black and white rhinoceros. The discovery of well-preserved woolly rhinoceros carcasses, some mummified in permafrost, has provided invaluable insights into the biology and ecology of these ancient creatures.