What do we know about Elasmotherium sibericum

Fossilized remains of Elasmotherium sibericum, an extinct genus of rhinoceros, were first found in 1808 and donated to the Natural History Museum at Moscow University. The entire fossil consisted of a single lower jaw. As more and more remains were found over the ensuing decades, scientists were able to put together a picture of this distinct animal.

Members of the rhinoceros species are all herbivores and  e. sibericum was no exception. He was the size of a mammoth and his skull bears evidence of a giant, single horn protruding from the top center of his forehead, thus the nickname Siberian Unicorn.

Fifteen feet long and 3-4 tons in weight, a single creature required an intake of 120 pounds of grass in one day, thus it is no surprise that E. sibericum roamed a wide swath of the Eurasian peninsula.

It was thought that the he had died out 350,000 years ago, however the discovery in March 2016 of a skull in Kazakhstan gave us a new frame of reference. Radiocarbon dating of this most recently found skull reduced the date of possible extinction to as recently as 39,000 years ago, which puts it on the cusp of the Neanderthal to modern human transition. Though he doesn't look much like the unicorn of lore, he is nevertheless the closest thing we have at present to  that special beast within sight of the human family.

Next month...Real life Nessies in Pre-Historic Scotland