Rhinoceros Giants: The Paleobiology of Indricotheres (Life of the Past)

Main subject categories: • Indricotheres • Rhinoceros giants • Paleobiology • Indricotheres ‒ Systematics and taxonomyWritten for everyone fascinated by the huge beasts that once roamed the earth, this book introduces the giant hornless rhinoceros, Indricotherium. These massive animals inhabited Asia and Eurasia for more than 14 million years, about 37 to 23 million years ago. They had skulls 6 feet long, stood 22 feet high at the shoulder, and were twice as heavy as the largest elephant ever recorded, tipping the scales at 44,100 pounds. Fortunately, the big brutes were vegetarians. Donald R. Prothero tells their story, from their discovery just a century ago to the latest research on how they lived and died. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 9 Preface 12 1 Quicksand! 16 "The New Conquest of Central Asia" 16 The Real "Indiana Jones"? 19 Osborn and Granger 22 Into the Gobi Desert 25 2 Giant Hunters 32 Pilgrim's Progress 32 Forster Cooper's Finds 36 Borissiak and the Russian Giants 39 Monsters of the Middle Kingdom 43 The Giant Hunting Continues 49 3 Lands of the Giants 50 Beasts of Baluchistan 50 Monsters of Mongolia 56 Mysteries of Kazakhstan 62 Talking Turkey 65 4 Rhino Roots 68 Rhinos without Horns 68 Rhino Radiation 72 Hyracodonts and Indricotheres 75 5 What's in a Name? 82 Systematics and Taxonomy 82 Rules of the Road 84 How Many Different Kinds of Giants Were There? 92 6 Building a Giant 102 Dry Bones 102 Putting Flesh on the Skeletons 112 Constraints on Giants 115 Weight Problems 118 7 Paradise Lost 122 Greenhouse of the Dinosaurs 122 The Big Chill 124 La Grande Coupure 128 Remodeling Mongolia 130 Where Have All the Giants Gone? 133 Bibliography 138 Index 152 A book for everyone fascinated by the huge beasts that once roamed the earth, Rhinoceros Giants: The Paleobiology of the Indricotheres introduces a prime candidate for the largest land mammal that ever lived--the giant hornless rhinoceros, Indricotherium. These massive animals lived in Asia and Eurasia for more than 14 million years, about 37 to 23 million years ago. They had skulls 6 feet long, stood 22 feet high at the shoulder, and were nearly twice as heavy as the largest elephant ever recorded, tipping the scales at 44,100 pounds. Fortunately, the big brutes were vegetarians, although they must have made predators think twice before trying to bring them down. In this book for lovers of ancient creatures great and small, Donald R. Prothero tells their story, from their discovery by paleontologists just a century ago to the latest research on how they lived and died, with some interesting side trips along the way.

Written for everyone fascinated by the huge beasts that once roamed the earth, this book introduces the giant hornless rhinoceros, Indricotherium. These massive animals inhabited Asia and Eurasia for more than 14 million years, about 37 to 23 million years ago. They had skulls 6 feet long, stood 22 feet high at the shoulder, and were twice as heavy as the largest elephant ever recorded, tipping the scales at 44,100 pounds. Fortunately, the big brutes were vegetarians. Donald R. Prothero tells their story, from their discovery just a century ago to the latest research on how they lived and died.

Written for readers who are fascinated by the huge beasts that once roamed the earth, this book introduces the giant hornless rhinoceros, Indricotherium. These massive animals inhabited Asia and Eurasia for more than 14 million years, about 37 to 23 million years ago. They had skulls 6 feet long, stood 22 feet high at the shoulder, and were twice as heavy as the largest elephant ever recorded, tipping the scales at 44,100 pounds. Fortunately, the big brutes were vegetarians. Here, the author tells their story, from their discovery just a century ago to contemporary research on how they lived and died.