''Prosantorhinus'' is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of rhinoceros from the lower and middle

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

. The small teleoceratine rhinocerotid was found in western Europe and Asia.

Description

''Posantorhinus'' was a similarly sized animal to the

Sumatran rhinoceros The Sumatran rhinoceros (''Dicerorhinus sumatrensis''), also known as the Sumatran rhino, hairy rhinoceros or Asian two-horned rhinoceros, is a rare member of the family Rhinocerotidae and one of five extant species of rhinoceros. It is the o ...

, it stood at around 4'3" (130 cm) at the shoulder and was about 9'6" (290cm) long, weight estimates however are considerably bigger due to its considerably deeper chest. ''Posantorhinus'' ' body plan is stubbier than other rhinoceros', adding to that ''Posantorhinus'' ' brachyodont molars it would seem to suggest ''Posantorhinus'' led a semiaquatic life, similar to a

hippopotamus The hippopotamus ( ; : hippopotamuses or hippopotami; ''Hippopotamus amphibius''), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extan ...

, possibly feeding on fresh water plants. The rugged texture at the tip of its snout could suggest the existence of one, maybe two, small horns; however it has been traditionally reconstructed with a fleshy bump.

References

Miocene rhinoceroses Prehistoric mammals of Europe Miocene mammals of Europe Miocene mammals of Asia {{paleo-oddtoedungulate-stub